POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A 22-year-old CT technician employed at AdventHealth Sebring is behind bars facing a litany of felony charges after authorities say he used a messaging app to trade graphic videos of young children.
Detectives with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit arrested Adrian Sanchez at his Ft. Meade home on Friday, January 16, following a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Sanchez has been charged with 16 counts of promoting a sexual performance of a child and possession of child pornography.
According to the arrest report, the investigation began when NCMEC flagged an account on the Kik messenger app for uploading and sending videos depicting child sexual abuse. Investigators traced the digital footprint to an IP address at a residence in Ft. Meade.
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After securing a search warrant, detectives analyzed files associated with the account. Of the 31 files reviewed, 17 were confirmed to contain explicit material involving prepubescent children ranging from 4 to 12 years old. Investigators noted that the files depicted severe sexual battery by adult males.
Authorities say Sanchez did not just possess the material but actively distributed it. Records indicate he shared the files with other users on the platform 16 times and sent messages attempting to trade for more content. One specific video he is accused of sharing showed a female child, estimated to be between 4 and 6 years old, being abused.
Detectives interviewed Sanchez at his home earlier this month. According to the Sheriff’s Office, he admitted to running the Kik account and sharing the files.
Investigators clarified that while the digital crimes are severe, there is currently no evidence suggesting Sanchez had inappropriate physical contact with any children. A review of other electronic devices in the home reportedly came back clean.
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Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd issued a sharp rebuke of the suspect following the arrest.
“Anyone who seeks out or shares child sexual abuse material is exploiting real children who are being or have been victimized,” Judd said. “This man was sharing horrific images of children being sexually abused, and that makes him a predator — and predators belong in jail. Our detectives made sure he got there.”
Because minor children live in the home where Sanchez was arrested, the Department of Children and Families was notified.
Sanchez remains in the Polk County Jail as forensic experts continue a full analysis of the seized devices.
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