77 Potential Pedophiles Busted
June 9th, 2009 by Mike VasilindaNew software for tracking the distribution of pornography has led to 77 people being charged with possessing child porn or sexual battery. The statewide sweep took place over the last ten weeks, and as Mike Vasilinda tells us officers also seized a “how to” be a pedophile power point.
Two registered sex offenders were among the 77 arrested from one end of the state to the other. The arrests were part of a ten week operation announced by the Governor, the Attorney General, the Department of Law Enforcement, and TV host John Walsh.
“Most of those children that were involved in these cases, whether they were molested or were in the videos, were under 12 years old,” Walsh said. “One of the children was one year old.”
Five children were rescued.
“There was ample evidence when we served the search warrants that they had been victimized,” FDLE commissioner Gerald Baily said.
Included in materials seized at 17 locations was a “how to” power point presentation too graphic to show you in detail. The arrests were made using new software to track its distribution.
They come from all walks of life. There’s even a father-son duo here. This guy was running an ROTC program; while this guy was molesting two daughters.
45 of the arrests were made in Polk County.
“We’re going to do whatever we can to put them in jail every time we get a chance,” Richard Sloan with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said. “And we cooperate well with all the other agencies.”
The governor says the arrests are a message for those who would prey on children.
“They ought to think twice because, in Florida, we’re going to catch you,” Crist said.
More than 90 search warrants were served in conjunction with Operation Orange Tree. Several arrest warrants are still outstanding.
A total of 22 law enforcement agencies participated in the sweep.
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