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Navarre Man Arrested In Child Porn Sting

By Jamie Burch

The Florida Attorney General's Office says the Navarre man sent pornographic pictures of children to an undercover officer he met in an internet chatroom. Navarre Man Arrested In Child Porn Sting

Published: Mon, April 07, 2008 - 6:17 pm Last Updated: Mon, April 07, 2008 - 9:41 pm

The Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office arrested a Navarre man accused of sending pornographic pictures of children to an undercover officer he met in an internet chatroom.
The Florida Attorney General's Office says 46-year Kenneth Force chatted with a Lake County deputy, west of Orlando, for the last three months. The AG's Cyber Crime Unit contacted Santa Rosa County once it learned Force lived in Navarre.
“This case illustrates how Cyber Crime clearly knows no geographical boundaries and how important statewide cooperation is in our fight against child pornographers,” said Attorney General Bill McCollum.
The Cyber Crime Unit and Santa Rosa deputies searched Force's home where they seized 2 computers and 12 disks. They found at least 10 images of child pornography, many of children no more than 10 years old. Forensic scientists will examine the hard drives to see if there is any more child pron on the computers.
"Investigators with our Sheriff's Office continuously pursue online predators and those who exploit children," said Santa Rosa County Sheriff Wendell Hall. "We are always willing to assist other agencies in apprehending these criminals, especially when they live here in Santa Rosa County." .
Force will be charged with 10 counts of possession of child pornography. More charges could be added.
The CyberCrimes Against Children Act of 2007 gives Florida some of the strongest laws in the nation against child pornography. If convicted of all counts, Force faces up to 150 years in prison.