Former Walmart employee arrested for production of child pornography inside store

CULLMAN, Ala. (WBMA) — A Walmart employee has been arrested after allegedly producing child pornography at the store, according to the Cullman Police Department.

Ethan Edward Richardson, 25, was arrested for production of child pornography, possession of child pornography, and aggravated criminal surveillance.

UPDATE: Richardson was accused of using a phone to record images of a 4-year-old in the store's bathroom. His bond has been set at $80,000.

Police said the charges all come from an incident which took place at the Walmart on Feb. 4. There is currently only one known victim but police urge anyone who think they might be a victim, and have not reported it yet, to let them know immediately.

Adam Clark, the Public Relations Officer for the Cullman Police Department, said officers were on the scene of a theft at the Walmart on Olive Street when someone approached officers about Richardson and a recording device. Police said the device in question belonged to Richardson.

"There's no other recording device, there's not a device that been installed anywhere in the store, this is a device that belonged to this subject," Clark explained.

Mckenzie Smith is the mother to two young children, and shops at the Walmart Supercenter on Olive Street frequently. She said she remembers seeing Ethan Richardson at the store on different occasions while she was with her kids.

"I probably won't let nobody talk to my kids. I mean I already have the mom instinct of not letting them run off, having them close to me, but now I cant even let a worker come up and speak them," Smith said. "That just irritates me."

Father Cory Pritchett said incidents like this are why he does not let his child out of his sight while in public.

"You think you're safe in this Walmart or wherever your shopping and it turns out you're not. So it's a shock, and eyeopener," Pritchett said.

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Walmart released a statement Wednesday afternoon and said Richardson is no longer an employee.

“We do not discuss the details of personnel matters but we can confirm that this person is not currently working in our store," the company said.

Richardson's bond is set at $43,000. Clark said this is a reminder to always be aware of what is happening around you.

"Be vigilant, be aware of your surroundings, pay attention to anything going on around you, anyone else around you, or anything that doesn't look right," Clark explained.