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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 Carrie Horstman, Brian Bruchey, and Julianna Rivera. 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.
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Mar 31, 2026
PCSO arrests man for sexual misconduct with a child, to include sexual battery and child pornography
Media Contact: Brian Bruchey
*** Video of Sheriff Judd talking about this case can be seen on the PCSO YouTube channel ***
Detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office have arrested a man from Boynton Beach after their investigation determined he had sexually battered a child he had access to, in addition to creating child pornography with the same child on numerous occasions in Polk County.
40-year old Gary Lenard Wells is currently in the Polk County Jail facing charges of Custodial Sexual Battery-Victim Under 12 (F1, 4-counts), Directing Sexual Performance by a Child (F2, 15-counts), Possession of Child Pornography (F3, 15-counts), and Battery of a Child Through Expelling Certain Fluids (F2).
“Gary Wells is now where he belongs—locked up, and unable to harm any other children. He should never be able to breathe air outside of a jail or a prison for the rest of his life.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
The Sheriff’s Office was first notified about the allegations on March 16, 2026, by a relative of the victim. The relative found a video on Wells’ cell phone that showed the victim performing oral sex on Wells the day before. When confronted about the video, Wells grabbed the cell phone from the relative and fled the scene.
According to the relative, Wells had been like a member of the family for the past five years and had a custodial role for the child during that time.
During a forensic interview with the victim, it was reported that Wells had intercourse with the victim four times since December 2025. The victim said Wells recorded parts of the crime because he wanted to “remember” the moment.
On March 17, 2026, Wells was arrested by the West Palm Beach police on a Polk County warrant and his cell phone was seized.
A forensic download of the cell phone revealed a total of 15 videos created by Wells, which showed sex acts involving the victim.
Gary Wells was booked-in at the Polk County Jail.
Wells has a prior criminal history that includes battery by strangulation, theft, aggravated battery, and resisting without violence.