UF Student Arrested for Child Porn Distribution
College is a time of exploration, but unfortunately, some students explore things they should not be looking at. For example, many students start to explore pornography, and while porn featuring adults is legal, some people get deeper and deeper into the porn realm and discover forbidden images such as child porn.
This is what happened to a Florida man. The 19-year-old University of Florida student was arrested on August 21 in Gainesville for distributing child sexual abuse material online. The student is accused of uploading five videos related to child exploitation to a Discord chatroom on October 13, 2024. Authorities say the distribution and receipt of child pornography were conducted via Discord, and that the IP address used was traced back to the student’s apartment.
During questioning, the student confirmed ownership of the Discord account and the corresponding email. When asked, he said the Discord account was created while trying out for the university’s basketball team. He claims not to remember sending the five videos, saying the events occurred almost a year ago.
According to the arrest report, the student also admitted to viewing child sexual abuse material on Twitter as recently as two months prior, but stated he is not currently doing so.
The student is being held in Alachua County jail with a bond set at $400,000. He is currently awaiting trial.
Child Porn Offenses in Florida
- Possession or viewing of child pornography. Stat. § 827.071(5) prohibits knowingly possessing, controlling, or intentionally viewing child sexual abuse material. This is a third-degree felony, with penalties of up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
- Promoting, distributing, or transmitting child pornography. Stat. § 827.071(4) and § 847.0137 prohibit promoting, distributing, transmitting, or possessing with intent to promote such material. This is a second-degree felony, with penalties of up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
- Producing or directing a sexual performance by a child. Stat. § 827.071(2) and (3) prohibit employing, authorizing, or persuading a child to participate in sexual performance for commercial or private use. This is a second-degree felony, with penalties of up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
- Generated (computer-created) child pornography. Stat. § 827.072 prohibits possessing, producing, or distributing digitally created images that appear to depict minors in sexual conduct. This crime is generally treated the same way as possession/distribution of real child pornography. It can be a second- or third-degree felony, depending on the conduct.
Contact a Legal Professional for Help
Child pornography is a crime perpetrated by people of all ages, even teens and college students. These images can be alluring but illegal.
If you are caught possessing or distributing child porn, you could face felony charges. Your life could change forever. Protect yourself with help from a Florida child pornography lawyer from the Law Offices of Gilbert A. Schaffnit. Schedule a consultation today by calling (352) 505-1799 or filling out the online form.
Source:
alligator.org/article/2025/08/uf-student-arrested-on-child-pornography-charges