2 Florida Men Arrested For 79 Child Porn Charges

Florida law enforcement officials are working hard to reduce the presence of child porn in the state. They work in tandem with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to investigate tips and put offenders behind bars.

Police recently arrested two Tampa men who were engaging in child pornography and animal abuse crimes. In total, the men are facing 79 child porn charges. The 42-year-old man was arrested on 22 counts of child porn possession and 22 counts of child porn transmission via an electronic device. The other man, 30, was arrested on 35 counts of child porn possession,  possession of obscene material, engaging in sexual conduct with an animal, and aggravated cruelty to animals.

The investigation began after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a tip that someone had uploaded child pornography to a social media account. Both men, as well as the 30-year-old’s significant other, were all identified as suspects. Police executed a search warrant of the 42-year-old man’s home.

At the home, police found child porn files on both men’s cellphones. There were also videos of the 30-year-old man engaging in sexual acts with an animal. Both men were arrested after police searched the home.

Police also took multiple animals from the home, including seven cats, five dogs, three snakes, and 11 cockatiels. The animals were taken to local shelters. Police are continuing to investigate the situation.

Sex Crimes Involving Animals

Sex crimes involving animals, also known as bestiality, may be taboo, but it’s more common than you may think. The crimes range widely in location, from a person’s home to a rural location on a farm. In some cases, there are even organized events in which the animal abuse takes place. In any case, there is a strong connection between violence to animals and violence to humans, which makes bestiality concerning.

Fortunately, most states have laws in place prohibiting sexual contact with animals. Florida is one of the 45 states with bestiality laws. However, in animal abuse cases, the law does not require mental health evaluations, allowing the abuse to continue once the offender is out of jail. The judge can order these evaluations at their discretion, though.

Plus, based on state law, the animal victims in these cases are often returned to their abusers, which is not in the animals’ best interest. Animals do not have as many protections as children, which is unfortunate.

Contact a Legal Professional for Help

It’s sad when people take advantage of the most vulnerable members of society. Children and animals should be protected at all costs, and the law makes child porn and animal abuse charges punished severely.

Child porn crimes are not taken lightly. Seek legal help from a Florida child pornography lawyer from the Law Offices of Gilbert A. Schaffnit. We’ll work hard to defend your case and get you the best outcome possible. To schedule a consultation, call (352) 505-1799 or fill out the online form.

Source:

wfla.com/news/hillsborough-county/atrocious-behavior-tampa-men-arrested-on-79-child-porn-animal-abuse-charges/