Sixteen people have been arrested in “Operation Cyber Child III,” an undercover operation conducted by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) focusing on adults traveling to meet minors to engage in sexual activity and on those who possess child pornography. The operation concluded Monday night, June 30, 2014 and included two phases: the first phase resulted in 3 arrests for possession of child pornography and the second phase resulted in 13 arrests for those who travelled to have sex with those who they believed were underage girls and boys.
The child pornography arrests were a result of three search warrants that were executed on June 18 at three homes in Polk County. The search warrants resulted in three individuals being arrested, to include one man who was employed with the Polk County School Board as a teacher.
The first search warrant was executed at a home in the 3300 block of Youngway Drive in Lakeland in reference to multiple images of child pornography being uploaded from the residence. Deputies make contact with Jesus Arroyo, 17. During an interview, Arroyo admitted to viewing child pornography, with the youngest victim being approximately one to two years of age and the oldest victim being approximately ten years of age. Arroyo was arrested and charged with Possession of Child Pornography (7 counts).
Detectives also went to a home located in the 1500 block of Main Street East, also in lakeland. Three individuals were located inside the residence. During interviews of the residents, 34-year-old John King admitted to viewing child pornography, with the youngest victim being approximately six years of age. King was arrested and charged with Possession of Child Pornography (22 counts). King has a significant criminal history with 19 previous charges.
At a home in the 9000 block of Thomasville Drive in Winter Haven, deputies contacted the sole occupant, Matthew Tillesen, 28. Tillesen admitted to being in possession and distributing child pornography. Deputies discovered Fifty (50) images of child pornography on Tillesen’s computer, with the youngest victim being approximately one to two years of age. Tillesen is a geometry teacher at Haines City High School, where he has worked for the past two years. He also previously had worked at Westwood Middle School for two years as a math teacher. Tillesen was arrested and charged with Possession of Child Pornography (50 counts).
The second phase of the operation began June 21, 2014, and ended in the early morning hours of July 1, 2014. This phase of the operation focused on adults traveling to meet minors to engage in sexual activity. During the operation, undercover detectives monitored various Internet web sites and social media computer applications. Detectives posted fictitious ads or profiles on various websites and applications. The men travelled to the undercover location to follow through with the promises made online to engage in sexual activity with the children.
