Park City tennis instructor arrested on ten counts of sexual exploitation of a minor

Photo: Park City Police Department.

Bogdan Badiu has been charged with 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor after police found explicit photos on his phone and computer of young girls

UPDATE: Charges dismissed against Park City tennis instructor accused of sexual exploitation of a minor

Charges dismissed against Park City tennis instructor accused of sexual exploitation of a minor

PARK CITY, Utah – Bogdan Badiu, a 58-year-old Park City man charged with ten counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, made his first court appearance Tuesday, July 30. Badiu was arrested Tuesday, July 23, after police found hundreds of explicit photographs on his phone and computer of young girls.

Badiu has been a tennis instructor at several Park City clubs dating back as far as 2013.

Badiu is being held without bail as “the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that Bogdan Badiu would constitute a substantial danger to any other individual or to the community, or is likely to flee the jurisdiction of the court if released on bail.”

Court officials confirmed with TownLift Badiu’s involvement in a separate investigation involving a Kansas woman who claims Badiu sexually assaulted her at his home in Deer Valley in June. Park City Police seized Badiu’s phone after being granted a search warrant for the phone related to the sexual assault case. Officers say that is when the pornographic content involving children was discovered. 

After completing a cellular data extraction on Badiu’s phone, over 200 photos of naked children were found and labeled as Child Sexual Abuse Material. Based on the evidence found on Badiu’s phone, a new case was opened, and a warrant to search Badiu’s home was approved on July 18, 2024. Police seized two computers at his home, where the images were also found in file backups.

On July 23, Badiu was interviewed by the PCPD. He was read his Miranda warning, at which time Badiu waived his Miranda rights and agreed to talk to Officer Parker about the content found on the phone.

Badiu told police that he did know the photos on his phone were child pornography. He also said his mother viewed the photos at one point and explained to him that he should not have the photos on his phone. Shortly after the interview, Badiu surrendered another cell phone to police.

At the time of Badiu’s home search, Badiu’s 11-year-old daughter was placed in the care of the Department of Child and Family Services while arrangements were made for her mother to come to Utah to get her. Badiu’s daughter did not disclose any criminal activity to authorities.

Sexual Exploitation of a Minor is a second-degree felony, and if convicted, each carries a prison sentence of one to 15 years and a fine of up to $10,000.

Badiu is scheduled to have a remote hearing on Friday, August 2. Clifford Venable has been appointed Badiu’s legal counsel. Joseph S. Hill will serve as the state’s prosecuting attorney.

Editor’s note: This article was edited to remove details involving the nature of the photographs found on Badiu’s phone.