A public elementary college instructor and church choir chief has been arrested over allegations that he possessed and transmitted baby pornography.
Joseph Watson, a 53-year-old resident of Land O’Lakes, Florida, was arrested Monday and faces two felony fees of possession of kid sexual abuse materials, two felony fees of digital in-state transmission of obscene materials, and two felony fees of illegal use of a two-way communication machine.
Watson’s arrest was a part of a coordinated effort among the many Florida Division of Regulation Enforcement and the Pasco Sheriff’s Workplace, working from a tip supplied by the Nationwide Heart for Lacking and Endangered Youngsters.
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“FDLE continues to set the bar for what rapid response looks like,” stated FDLE Tampa Bay Particular Agent in Cost Mark Brutnell in an announcement launched Tuesday.
“It is because of our partnerships at every level of law enforcement that we can continue to protect the community through diligent investigation and effective prosecution. FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass and Attorney General James Uthmeier don’t just take the protection of Florida’s children seriously, they lead by example.”
In line with authorities, FDLE’s investigation started on Might 9, once they acquired a cybertip from the NCMEC about somebody sharing information depicting the sexual abuse of youngsters on social media.
The investigation revealed that Watson, a music instructor at Oakstead Elementary College, was the social media consumer who obtained and shared two information depicting the abuse.
Authorities famous that, on Monday, FDLE Tampa brokers went to Oakstead and interviewed Watson. He reportedly admitted to receiving and sharing the information on social media.
Watson was then transported to the Pasco County Jail and booked with a $120,000 bond.
“It’s hard to find a more depraved example of someone who betrayed the local community’s trust than Mr. Watson,” stated Florida Lawyer Common James Uthmeier in an announcement. “My prosecutors will bring down the full weight of the law on this predator.”
Along with his educating duties, Watson was additionally a choir chief at Grace Lutheran Church of Carrollwood, a suburb of Tampa, and was lively within the congregation’s summer time youth program.
Grace Lutheran Pastor Jennifer S. Michael stated in a Fb put up that her church “is committed to the safety and well-being of all members of our congregation, especially our children and youth.”
“At this time we have no record indicating that Mr. Watson has participated in any unsupervised volunteer roles within our youth ministries or had direct individual interaction with any of our youth,” she added.
“As a community of faith, we lean on the words of Psalm 34:18: ‘The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.’ We pray for God to provide wisdom, peace, and healing in the days ahead.”
“Well bless their hearts.”
