Teenager arrested on more than 50 counts of child pornography

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – A 19-year-old from DeFuniak Springs has been charged with 60 counts of child pornography following a year-long investigation by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Bureau’s Cyber ​​Crimes Unit.

The investigation began after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a tip about possible child exploitation in Walton County. The Cyber ​​Crimes Unit launched an extensive investigation and eventually identified Donovan Anthony Clinch as a suspect. (RELATED: Freeport man charged with sexual abuse of a minor)

“These allegations are abhorrent,” said Captain Dustin Cosson of the WCSO Criminal Investigations Bureau. “But just like an iceberg, you never know what’s beneath the surface. This investigation took countless hours of digital forensics and is just a small example of how evidence and thoroughness pay off.”

Using multiple subpoenas and search warrants, investigators were able to trace the origin of the tip to Clinch. On September 17, a search warrant was executed at Clinch’s residence, 380 Lakeview Drive in DeFuniak Springs. Evidence collected at the crime scene was sent to an off-site location for further digital forensic analysis.

The investigation revealed that Clinch was in possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and bestiality content. On October 9, Clinch was arrested and charged with 54 counts of possession of child pornography, five counts of possession of pornography involving animal sexual activity and one count of unlawful use of a two-way communication device.

Clinch is currently being held on a $100,000 bond.

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