Expand / Collapse search
☰

Leesburg man arrested on child sexual abuse material charges, part of FDLE statewide initiative

By
Published  December 18, 2024 3:56pm EST
Leesburg
FOX 35 Orlando

The Brief

    • The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has arrested a Leesburg man on three felony charges of possessing child sexual abuse material.
    • The arrest is part of FDLE’s statewide initiative to track and arrest individuals sharing files depicting the sexual abuse of children.
    • 34-year-old Warner Smith was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail.

ORLANDO, Fla. - The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has arrested a Leesburg man on three felony charges of possessing child sexual abuse material.

The arrest of 34-year-old Warner Smith, is part of FDLE’s statewide initiative to track and arrest individuals sharing files depicting the sexual abuse of children.

The investigation began in October after FDLE agents received a cyber tip about someone transmitting and downloading digital files depicting child sexual exploitation. 

Warner Smith, 34, of Leesburg, faces three felony charges of possessing child sexual abuse material.

Expand

Investigators later identified the suspect as Smith and on December 12, agents executed a search warrant at Smith’s residence and seized his cellphone. 

A preliminary forensic analysis revealed additional files showing the sexual abuse of prepubescent children, some as young as 6 years old, authorities said.

Smith was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail. 

His case will be prosecuted by Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution and the FDLE Orlando Cybercrime Unit is leading the investigation.

The Source: The information in this article comes from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement report.

STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO:

LeesburgCrime and Public SafetyLake CountyNewsNews