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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.
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On February 13, 2020, PCSO Computer Crimes detectives obtained a warrant for and arrested 27-year-old Joshua Johnson of Davenport charging him with 200 counts possession of child pornography (enhanced) (F-2). The charges are enhanced because the images/videos met one of the following criteria, per FSS 775.0847:
(a) The offender possesses 10 or more images of any form of child pornography regardless of content; and
(b) The content of at least one image contains one or more of the following:
1. A child who is younger than the age of 5
2. Sadomasochistic abuse involving a child
3. Sexual Battery involving a child
4. Sexual bestiality involving a child
5. Any movie involving a child, regardless of length and regardless of whether the movie contains sound.
Upon Johnson's arrest, he told deputies he's been viewing child pornography from a young age, ever since he received his first computer, and that he is "addicted" to it. The images found on his electronic devices depicted children between the ages of 2-7 years old being sexually abused.
"Those who upload and share child pornography are victimizing children over and over again. It is especially concerning when we locate a suspect with this many images, most of which depict very small children being sexually abused. At this time we don't believe Johnson physically abused a child, but the investigation into that is ongoing." - Grady Judd, Sheriff
Johnson's criminal history includes 4 previous felonies, including armed robbery and VOP in Jacksonville. He was in state prison from March 2016 until August 2017. He is married and has a child. He will have a first appearance hearing on February 14, 2020.