Florida boy, 17, traded child porn for better video game rank, deputies say
MARION COUNTY, Fla. - Deputies said they arrested a 17-year-old boy after he allegedly exchanged child pornography to earn a higher rank in a video game.
Reports show the boy was arrested for four counts of possession of child pornography and one count of unlawful use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.
Online investigation
The backstory:
On Nov. 8, the Marion County Sheriff's Office said they received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that indicated a user uploaded multiple files of child sexual abuse material.
Deputies stated the information was uploaded to Discord, which is an internet-based communications application that is popular among those who play video games.
Timeline:
Through a series of search warrants and investigations, detectives stated they determined the user was a 17-year-old boy. The FOX 35 News team is choosing not to use the boy's name or mugshot, as he is a minor.
Deputies said another tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children indicated the boy had sent messages in a group chat saying he had child sexual abuse material.
Detectives said they traveled to the boy's home in Ocala to speak with him and his parents, and they discovered the boy was the only user of the Discord account.
Suspect confession
What they're saying:
Deputies said the child admitted he had been downloading the material because "other users advised they would gain ‘rank’ for him" if he acquired the material for them.
The boy also admitted to having more than 30 files with child sexual abuse material on his phone, sheriffs reported.
What's next:
The Marion County Sheriff's Office said they arrested the boy Monday, Jan. 27.
The boy has been transported to the Department of Juvenile Justice, sheriffs stated.
Because of the additional material found on the boy's phone, authorities reported additional charges are likely after a digital forensic examination of the device.
STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO:
- Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines
- Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar
- Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines
- FOX Local: Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV
The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the Marion County Sheriff's Office.