Sheriff says suspect, an active church member, possessed “worst of the worst” material; investigation into potential contact abuse continues.
POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Polk County man is being held without bond after his arrest this month on multiple felony charges related to child sexual abuse material.
Andrew “Drew” McGaffigan, 39, of Auburndale, was initially arrested on December 17, 2025, by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) Cyber Crimes Unit. He was charged with 30 counts of possession of child pornography. On December 23, detectives filed an additional 46 counts following a forensic review of his electronic devices.
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The investigation began after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) forwarded multiple cybertips to law enforcement. The tips indicated that files of suspected child sexual abuse material were being uploaded to a cloud storage account from a mobile device.
The Auburndale Police Department, which also received tips, collaborated with the PCSO, which took the lead on the case.
Detectives executed an electronic search warrant on the account in question. According to the PCSO, they located 30 files depicting children, ranging from infants to 12-year-olds, being sexually abused. Officials stated the victims were not immediately identified as children known to McGaffigan.
An arrest warrant was issued. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office arrested McGaffigan at his workplace in Plant City. He was transferred to the Polk County Jail, where his bond was initially set at $300,000.
Following the arrest, detectives seized McGaffigan’s cell phone and other devices. A forensic examination allegedly uncovered an additional 46 illicit images and videos. The sheriff’s office reported the victims in these files ranged from 6 months old to approximately 9 years old. One video, described in a police report, depicted the abuse of a 5-year-old. Some files reportedly contained text captions advocating for the legalization of pedophilia and encouraging the abuse of children.
“This suspect is the worst of the worst,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd stated in a press release. “Here is a married man with children of his own advocating for the sexual abuse of babies and children. He’s also active in his local church. We will continue our thorough investigation to determine whether or not he has abused any child to whom he has access.”
Accordign to PCSO, McGaffigan is an active member of the First Baptist Church of Auburndale.
McGaffigan has remained in the Polk County Jail since his initial arrest. A judge has since revoked his bond, ordering him held without bail.
The investigation is ongoing. The PCSO stated detectives are working to identify the victims in the digital files and to investigate whether any contact abuse occurred. McGaffigan is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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