Sunshine Sentinel

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution secured a 51-year prison sentence for a Naples man convicted of 46 counts of child pornography. The Honorable Judge Blake Adams of Collier County sentenced Christopher William Cox for being in possession of 10 or more images of child pornography, including at least one image containing sexual battery of a child or video of a child.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “This offender gained access to a disturbing amount of child pornographic images and videos depicting unspeakable acts. There are no words to describe the amount of revulsion for those who violate children, and I am thankful for FDLE and my statewide prosecutors for ensuring this criminal stays behind bars.”

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s investigation determined that an IP address belonging to Cox shared 11 files of suspected child pornography between January and September 2021. FDLE special agents, with the assistance of the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, executed a search warrant at Cox’s residence. Agents seized multiple computer-related devices to take back to the FDLE Fort Myers Regional Operations Center for forensic examination.

Agents discovered more than 45 files showing child sexual abuse material on Cox’s laptop computer, including images and videos. Cox used the file sharing software eMule, a peer-to-peer application where users can download and transfer files using the internet.

Authorities initially arrested and charged Cox with 10 counts of possession of child pornography, a third-degree felony each. However, due to the number of images and depiction of sexual battery displayed in some of the images and videos, each count was reclassified to a second-degree felony. Ultimately, Cox was charged by information with 46 separate counts of possession of child pornography and found guilty as charged on each count following a jury trial in December 2022.

Cox will serve his term out in the Florida Department of Corrections. Assistant Statewide Prosecutors Kyle Stublen and Agnieszka Osowicka handled the case.

Original source can be found here.