Former Pilot, Instructor Charged With Child Porn Possession

It is important to be mindful of your online activities. What you look at online can be viewed by others, and if you are looking at illegal images, such as child pornography, you will investigated, arrested, and jailed.

This is what has happened to a 62-year-old man from Indialantic. The man, a retired pilot and former adjunct instructor at Florida Tech, is currently in jail after investigators from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Department found images of child porn on his phone.

A tip to the sheriff’s department resulted in an investigation and subsequent arrest. The man is now facing 10 counts of possession of material depicting child sexual conduct. More specifically, he was in possession of images showing people having sex with infants.

Brevard County deputies arrested the man on April 7 and booked him into the Brevard County Jail Complex. He is being held on a $350,000 bond.

An investigation began March 19 after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children informed investigators of the man’s online activities. The man was allegedly involved with a chat room as a moderator.

Police obtained a search warrant for his home, phone, and other devices. The sheriff’s SWAT team and the U.S. Secret Service seized the man’s phone and computers. There were encrypted files in a hidden file, but investigators were able to open them. They discovered images showing infants engaged in sexual contact with adults.

The man is facing 10 counts of child porn possession. He has pled not guilty to the charges.

The man has an extensive background working as a flight instructor and piloting cargo flights. He was also an instructor at Florida Tech. He last worked there as a full-time employee in 2020.

Use of Chat Rooms in Child Sex Crimes

Using chat rooms to contact children is a major way in which adults meet minors to groom and exploit. It is estimated that 20% of children have experienced online solicitation.

These adults often pose as peers, moving conversations from public forums to private messages to gain trust and arrange in-person meetings. They may mask their identity, posing as children or teenagers in popular, often unmoderated, chat apps. Even in games or safe platforms, private and one-on-one chat functions allow for adults to take advantage of children.

Because of the possible dangers, children should never arrange to meet anyone they have met through a chatroom. If they do, they should take an responsible adult with them and always meet in a public place.

Contact a Legal Professional for Help

Child porn crimes are taken seriously, as minors cannot give consent. It is especially disturbing when infants are involved.

Arrested for a child porn crime? You need to act quickly. Get the help you need from a Florida child pornography lawyer from the Law Offices of Gilbert A. Schaffnit. We will work to provide you with a solid defense. Schedule a consultation with our office today by filling out the online form or calling (352) 505-1799.

Source:

floridatoday.com/story/news/crime/2026/04/10/former-florida-tech-instructor-faces-child-pornography-charges/89550708007/