DENVER -- A teacher who has pleaded guilty to five felony counts for exploiting children was once considered so dangerous that a judge initially imposed $500,000 bond. But now this admitted sex offender is out of jail without bond, 7NEWS Investigator John Ferrugia said.

Reed Senterfit, a man police and prosecutors say endeared himself to children only to exploit them, is free while awaiting sentencing.

Parents of one boy who has accused Senterfit of molesting him are livid because the Boulder County district attorney may not be asking for prison time.

"He said, 'Dad, he touched me,'" said the boy's father, who 7NEWS will identify only as Leonard.

When Leonard got the phone call from his son about what happened with his son's middle school teacher, he was stunned and angry.

"I was in shock. I never saw it, never suspected it, never saw it coming," he said.

Leonard never saw it coming because that teacher, Senterfit, is also a licensed counselor and foster parent.

"He would bring my son home. He was an all-around nice guy. We considered him a friend," said Leonard.

So when Senterfit and another foster parent wanted to include Leonard's son in an annual trip with their foster kids to Disneyland and other attractions, the parents were delighted.

Then Leonard received that shocking phone call from his son, who was in a California motel room. The phone call led police to Senterfit's home in Longmont.

"And there they found videotapes and computer files. You name it, they found it," said Leonard.

Investigators found that Senterfit had set up hidden cameras in the bathrooms, plied school-aged boys with pornography and then videotaped them as the touched themselves.

Police discovered stacks of videotapes and photos of nude children as well as an old film reel of actual sexual assaults on children they believe Senterfit purchased.

Senterfit was charged with 18 counts of sexually exploiting children in Boulder County. But since the attack on Leonard's son was in California, his case is not included.

"I expected that they would prosecute him on all the counts, every one of them. I figured he would go to jail for a long time," said Leonard.

But after Senterfit was charged, he plowed his car into an unoccupied vehicle. He was critically injured and because a judge had imposed a $500,000 bond, Boulder County was stuck with mounting medical expenses, totaling about $80,000.

To avoid further expenses, Senterfit was cut loose without bond and no electronic monitoring.

"I mean, this man hurt children. I don't understand how you could release a man or tell me that he's not a threat to society when he's hurt dozens of children over many years," said Leonard.

In September, Senterfit pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual exploitation of a child -- crimes that could bring him 60 years in prison. But he may never spend a day there because the Boulder County district attorney made a deal with Senterfit's lawyer, saying if the probation department recommends community corrections and treatment, the district attorney will not be arguing for prison in this case.

Boulder District Attorney Mary Lacey declined an on-camera interview but told 7NEWS Investigators that with a first offender like Senterfit, the philosophy is often treatment and to "contain him in the community so he doesn't commit further crime."

Even though this is the first time Senterfit has been caught, legal documents show he has been an offender for years.

In a letter to a friend, Senterfit admitted videotaping nude children, even naming some of his victims. He wrote that his sexual feelings about children "have been controllable to the point where the images were enough to keep me from acting out any actions with kids."

When 7NEWS recently visited Senterfit, he seemed pleased that he will not face prison time if he gets a good probation report.

"I wasn't suprised by it. I don't think it is all that unusual. I think the true facts of the case are different than what has been reported in the papers and on the news," Senterfit said.

At least one parent disagrees.

"This man hurts children. He hurt my son. He hurt other people's sons. He'll do it again," said Leonard.

Law enforcement sources told 7NEWS that two other persons have come forward with accusations that Senterfit assaulted them several years ago.

Senterfit remains free until his sentencing on Nov. 18, when he finds out if he will be released to community corrections. 7NEWS will be there and let you know what happens.

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