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Family: Former foundation director, Fogle remained in contact after child porn charges

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Jared Foundation’s Executive Director, Russell Taylor was arrested back in April on child pornography charges.

Jared Fogle released a statement on behalf of his foundation, saying it was severing ties with Taylor. However, a family member of Taylor who didn’t want to be identified, claims that’s not the case.

According to the family member, Fogle continued to privately support Taylor, and was even involved in bailing him out of jail. Taylor’s attorney wouldn’t confirm or deny that his client still has a relationship with the Subway spokesperson, but did say that Taylor was bailed out shortly after his arrest on state charges. Taylor is now back in jail, facing federal charges.

Taylor is accused of recording underage girls without their knowledge to produce porn. He’s accused of placing hidden cameras throughout his own home and recording video of children in the bathroom and in other rooms.

According to court documents, Taylor was in some of the images. The documents state that Taylor admits to placing clocks with hidden cameras around his home. He says it was to catch misbehavior and a thief. Taylor denied watching the videos. His attorney says it’s too early to draw conclusions.

“Charges at this point are still preliminary and they haven’t even returned an indictment yet. So, I think it’s premature for me to comment on any evidence tied to the case specifically. Obviously my client maintains his innocence. We’ll represent him and his interest in that,” said Brad Banks, Taylor’s defense attorney.

A woman approached police after exchanging sexual texts with Taylor and his wife, according to the documents. The texts included offers to send pornographic material to the woman including some child porn and some bestiality, court documents state. The woman alleges Taylor had asked if he could engage in sexual activity with her horse.

A judge granted prosecutors more time to produce a federal indictment. Taylor’s attorney would not say why, but did say it’s possible that Taylor is working with prosecutors and against Fogle.

“There could be any number of reasons. One that you asked about is a possibility that the prosecutor needed more time to do an investigation. Any number that could occur. The next phase in any federal prosecution is to present the case to a grand jury to see if they return an indictment on any charges. It’s that process that has been extended at this point,” said Banks.

Taylor faces seven counts of producing child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Authorities recovered more than 500 videos in connection with the case.