News and Investigations

Cyber Crimes Unit detectives from the Polk County Sheriff's Office arrested 22-year-old Adrian Sanchez of Ft. Meade, a CT Tech at Advent Health Sebring, and charged him with 16 counts of promoting sexual performance of a child and possession of child pornography (F2) after PCSO received a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that the Kik messenger app he was using was utilized to upload and send videos depicting child pornography.

Detectives determined that at least six videos and images of children being sexually abused were uploaded and distributed from an IP address associated with a residence in Ft. Meade. A search warrant was obtained to receive and review the files. Of the 31 total files provided, 17 were confirmed to contain child sexual abuse images (child pornography) involving male and female prepubescent children between the ages of 4 to 12 years old being sexually battered by adult males. The remaining files did show pornographic material but were age indeterminate. 

Records also showed that Sanchez shared these files with other Kik users 16 times and exchanged messages seeking to trade additional child pornography (the basis for the 16 counts of promoting sexual performance of a child). One of the videos he shared depicts a female child as young as 4 to 6 years old being sexually abused by an adult male.

During the investigation in January 2026, detectives responded to the home where Sanchez lives with his family. When detectives interviewed Sanchez, he admitted to operating the account and sharing the files. There is no evidence that he has had any inappropriate physical contact with any child. A review of other devices in the home confirmed no additional illicit material. 
  
Sanchez was taken into custody at his home on Friday, January 16, 2026, and booked into the Polk County Jail.

The Department of Children and Families was notified due to the presence of minor children in the home. A full forensic analysis of the seized devices is ongoing.

“Anyone who seeks out or shares child sexual abuse material is exploiting real children who are being or have been victimized. Our detectives work these cases relentlessly because every image represents a child who deserves protection. 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.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff