LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – A 55-year-old Lake County man will spend the rest of his life in prison after a judge handed down a massive 225-year sentence following his conviction on multiple counts of possessing child pornography.
John Joseph Marchlewski was found guilty by a jury on 15 counts of possession of child pornography, specifically involving 10 or more images per count. Presiding Judge Brian Welke ordered the sentences to run consecutively, resulting in 15 years for each individual charge.
The legal proceedings followed a May 2023 arrest sparked by a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
READ: Two Lovers, 21 Shots: Florida Couple Sentenced For Failed Ambush After Woman Sets Up Friend
Investigators with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) traced uploaded files containing child sexual abuse material to accounts owned by Marchlewski, who was already a registered sex offender. Upon executing a search warrant at his home, detectives seized his phone, which forensic analysts later confirmed held the illegal material.
State Attorney Bill Gladson expressed the gravity of the evidence found during the investigation, noting the young age of the victims involved.
“Of the disturbing videos this defendant possessed of very young children being sexually abused, one was less than two years old—just a toddler. The mere thought of someone abusing a toddler, or any child, for their own sexual gratification is sickening,” Gladson said.
He added that his office remains “unwavering” in its mission to prosecute both those who produce such material and those who view or share it.
The case was brought to trial by Assistant State Attorneys Tyler Duffy and Karli Hurbanis. With the consecutive nature of the sentencing, the court ensured that Marchlewski would remain incarcerated for more than two centuries.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
