A 38-year-old Florida man was busted for distributing child sexual abuse material using an online account.
Following a thorough trial where the prosecution team presented substantial evidence during a significant case against the defendant, a jury found Brandon Allen Elledge guilty on three Felony counts of Possession of Child Pornography.
“Individuals who actively search for this kind of content must face the consequences of their actions,” said Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Bill Gladson. “Our office is committed to stopping the dissemination of such abhorrent material by holding these offenders accountable to the highest degree.”
On February 22, 2022, deputies with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) executed a search warrant for the home Elledge was residing in, due to the distribution of child sexual abuse material using an account registered to Elledge. Officials were able to obtain the warrant after receiving a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an account was uploading illicit material involving minor children.
During the execution of the search warrant, Elledge stated he had resided at the home for several years. When questioned about what electronic devices would be located inside the residence, Elledge told law enforcement of a laptop located in his workshop on the property, as well as a communal desktop computer within the residence and two cell phones.
Post Miranda, detectives asked Elledge about the online account registered to him, which he acknowledged as his. He stated the account was shut down and he had received a notice indicating a violation of the account’s terms of usage.
When further questioned about his ownership of the account and if he had ever possessed files of child pornography, Elledge indicated he had. He further explained he believed he had wiped all the files containing this material from his account online. Elledge was arrested on scene.
This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Katrina Self and Elizabeth White.
