Florida Prosecutor Facing Child Porn Charges

Who views and downloads child pornography? The answer: it could be anyone. Believe it or not, it’s not just a certain type of person. Men and women of all ages, ethnicities, income levels, and professions are attracted to child porn.

Even prosecutors — the people whose job is to ensure people accused of crimes are held accountable — can be charged with child porn. And this recently happened to a Florida prosecutor, so the tables have turned and now the prosecutor is the one being held accountable for his crimes.

The Hillsborough State Attorney says that “no one is above the law” now that one of her prosecutors has been put behind bars for disturbing child porn charges. The man was recently

arrested for viewing and transmitting child pornography.

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office interviewed the man in his St. Petersburg home. He admitted to viewing and transmitting child porn and was subsequently arrested.

Detectives with the Crimes Against Children Unit began their investigation in July 2024. That was when they received information about the man accessing files of girls between the ages of 6 and 10 years old who were engaging in sex acts.

The 32-year-old man was booked into the Orient Road Jail in Hillsborough County. He was released on bond on May 29. He is facing eight child porn charges, including three counts of child porn possession, three counts of child porn transmission, and two counts of transmission of material harmful to a minor.

Pinellas and Hillsborough are known as the toughest counties for these crimes. A person charged with this type of crime is looking at prison time as well as sex offender registration for the rest of their lives.

The man was an assistant state attorney in the First Judicial Circuit from 2019 to 2021. He started working as an Assistant State Attorney in Hillsborough County in 2021. He is no longer employed there, as he was terminated from his position immediately following his arrest. The Hillsborough State Attorney stated that the man should have been protecting the public, especially children. There is no place in the community for his behavior.

The man’s colleagues are shocked at his behavior, considering that he is involved in the criminal justice system. His brush with the law could’ve been prevented to begin with, which makes this situation so frustrating and shocking.

Contact a Legal Professional for Help

Many respectable people are charged with child porn crimes. However, these crimes are punished harshly and people can face long-term penalties.

Don’t handle these charges on your own. A Florida child pornography lawyer from the Law Offices of Gilbert A. Schaffnit can serve as your advocate. We work with you to achieve a reduction or dismissal of charges, to gain an acquittal or not guilty verdict, or to secure another positive outcome in your case. Schedule a consultation today by filling out the online form or calling (352) 505-1799.

Source:

wfla.com/news/hillsborough-county/no-one-is-above-the-law-attorneys-react-to-hillsborough-prosecutor-arrested-on-child-porn-charges/