A Washington, DC, rabbi pleaded guilty Thursday to 52 voyeurism counts in connection to him secretly video recording women readying for Jewish ritual baths.

The authorities said Bernard Freundel, 63, was the rabbi of the Kesher Israel congregation in northwest Washington. Kesher Israel is adjacent to the National Capital Mikva, a Jewish ritual bath frequented by Orthodox Jewish women. Beginning as early as 2009, the defendant hid recording devices in the changing and showering rooms and secretly filmed women, the authorities said. He potentially faces living the rest of his life behind bars when sentenced in May.

"He betrayed the trust of every woman whose private moments he caught on camera along with an entire community that counted on him for moral leadership. We hope that this guilty plea will allow each of his victims to move forward and heal," District of Columbia US Attorney Ronald Machen Jr. said in a statement.

Freundel was nabbed after a clock radio with a camera was discovered in a showering room. The authorities said they found footage of at least 150 women on media storage devices after searching his house and office.

Update (2/22/15): The article has been updated to reflect the proper spelling of "Freundel."