Click Here for ADA Accessible Format

Polk County Sheriff’s Phone# 863-298-6200

If in an emergency Dial 911

Polk County Sheriff Facebook Polk County Sheriff Twitter Polk County Sheriff Instagram Polk County Sheriff Youtube

Hit enter to search or ESC to close

News and Investigations

News & Investigations

News Releases and Public Information

Welcome to the Polk County Sheriff's Office News Room, where the Public Information Officers (PIO's) post all of the information that they release to the news media. PIO's act as liaisons between news media organizations and the Sheriff's Office. The PIO's routinely release timely and accurate information and Crime Stoppers bulletins, and respond to routine and "breaking news" media inquiries. News releases and Crime Stoppers information can be found on this page.

PCSO's full-time Public Information Officers are Brian Bruchey, Carrie Horstman, and Alicia Manautou. The Public Information Officers can be reached by sending an e-mail collectively at PIOs@polksheriff.org

The recent news releases sent out by the PIOs can be found here, and archived releases (older than 2017) can be found here.

Nov 16, 2018

Lakeland man arrested on 100 counts of possession of child pornography

Media Contact: Sherrie Morgan, PIO

A Lakeland man is now in custody after over 100 images of child pornography were discovered on his cell phone.  Detectives received a tip that John Horton, 52, of Glenoak Drive North, Lakeland, had graphic pornographic images of children on his cell phone.

A search warrant was obtained for the phone and detectives found more than 100 images of child pornography, as well as web searches indicative of searching for and downloading child pornography. The pornographic images depicted children between 3 and 13 years of age being sexually molested and battered by adults, children engaged in sexual acts with each other, and images of children displaying their genitals in a lewd manner.

When questioned by detectives, Horton admitted to viewing, downloading and storing the child pornographic images on his phone.

Horton was arrested and charged with 100 counts of possession of child pornography. The charges are enhanced to a 2nd degree felony because of the number and age of the children depicted. 

“We thank the person who provided the tip that allowed our detectives to investigate this child pornography case. The images located on Mr. Horton’s phone are horrific. People like Horton create a market for these kinds of images that are dependent upon the continued sexual abuse of children. I appreciate the hard work our detectives did that was necessary to file these charges.” – Grady Judd, Sherriff

Horton has a previous criminal history in New York including charges for burglary (twice), grand larceny, petit theft and unauthorized use of a vehicle.

Horton is being held in the Polk County Jail with no bond.