Florida Criminal Attorney Blog
A Bradford County Sheriff’s Office jail corrections officer who was arrested two weeks ago on allegations he sexually battered a child was re-arrested last week on 12 new counts including child pornography charges.
According to a Bradford County Sheriff’s Office report, the new charges against the 59-year-old Starke man stem from an investigation related to the initial arrest for sexual battery.
Investigators from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement claim that a search of the man’s computers, a cellphone and other items recovered during the original search warrant on Jan. 10 revealed additional evidence.
For the sexual battery case, the Florida Department of Children and Families and the FDLE alleges the case involved a child under the age of 12. The Bradford County Sheriff’s Office claims there are some other possible victims who were interviewed.
Ex-Bradford Officer Charged with Child Pornography
The accused, who was hired in May 2007 and held the rank of corporal, resigned following interviews during the initial investigation. He was bonded out of jail earlier this week on a charge of capital sexual battery, but deputies and agents with FDLE took him into custody again at his home on Jan. 15.
He was arrested on charges of promoting or distributing sexual performance by a child and 11 counts of possession of child pornography.
The man was re-booked into the Bradford County Jail, then transferred to an undisclosed correctional facility for security purposes. His bail has been set at $1.2 million.
Federal and local law enforcement officials often work closely together to identify and track individuals suspected of possessing or distributing child pornography. Police usually act quickly when it comes to child pornography cases and will seize any hardware, such as computers, cellphones, ipads, tablets, etc. that could contain any illegal images.
If your computer, laptop, cellphone or other personal belongings have been confiscated by the police, you should not waste any time seeking out legal representation. A Bradford County Criminal Defense Lawyer at Whittel & Melton can examine the search and seizure procedures followed by the police and analyze any evidence the police obtained from your belongings. As former prosecutors, we are well-versed in the law surrounding child porn charges and can quickly identify any issues with police tactics as well as the arguments presented by the prosecution.
A conviction for a child pornography offense has very real consequences, such as a criminal record, years behind bars and a lifetime of being labeled as a sex offender. The mere allegation of possessing or distributing child porn can wreak havoc on your family, work and social life. Do not let these charges ruin your future. Call a Bradford County Criminal Defense Attorney at Whittel & Melton today at 866-608-5529 for a free initial consultation.