5 Arrested For Child Porn Possession

While law enforcement officials have been doubling down on child pornography in Florida, some people just don’t learn. There are still many people in the Sunshine State who download and store child porn materials on their computers and other electronic devices.

Five people —four adult men and a teen boy — were recently arrested in Polk County after police found child porn materials on their computers. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children had provided tips to law enforcement about the suspects’ computer activity.

Those arrested are:

• A 64-year-old man from Lakeland, who has been charged with 141 counts of child porn possession.
• A 32-year-old man from Lakeland, who is facing charges of child porn possession and promoting a sexual performance by a child.
• A 38-year-old man from Davenport, who is facing charges of child porn possession, methamphetamine possession, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• A 61-year-old from Lakeland, who is facing charges of possession of child porn possession, marijuana possession, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• A 16-year-old from Haines City, who has been charged with 36 counts of child porn possession.

A couple men have a prior criminal history. The 32-year-old man has been convicted of child porn in the past and has served seven years in Florida State Prison. The 38-year-old man from Davenport has a prior criminal history involving child porn possession. After serving six months in jail, he was out on probation for 53 months.

 Child Porn Possession Among Minors 

Contrary to popular belief, minors (those under the age of 18) can still be accused and convicted of child porn crimes. This can happen by looking at and possessing pornography that depicts minors engaging in sex acts. But most commonly, teens can be accused of sexting. Sexting refers to the exchange of sexually explicit images among underage teens. For example, a boy may send nude photos of himself to his girlfriend, who may do the same in exchange. While this behavior is legal for adults, it’s not for teens. The problem is that many teens do not know this. However, ignorance of the laws is not a defense.

However, these accused minors can generally have their case heard in juvenile court, where the penalties are not as severe. The juvenile court system is designed to educate and rehabilitate minors, so the punishment is typically not as severe. Still, a teen convicted of child porn can face penalties such as:

• Incarceration in juvenile hall
• Suspension or expulsion from school
• Seizure of cell phones
• Community service
• Counseling
• Loss of academic opportunities
• Withdrawal of college acceptance offers 

Contact a Legal Professional for Help

Child porn suspects have a lot on the line. They need a solid defense in order to avoid criminal charges.

That’s where a Florida child pornography lawyer from the Law Offices of Gilbert A. Schaffnit comes in. We’ll provide you with aggressive representation. To schedule a consultation, call (352) 505-1799 or fill out the online form.

Source:

wtsp.com/article/news/crime/polk-county-child-porn-arrests/67-e06474ff-3018-4e22-9892-ecb34005d43e