BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — Agents with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office say a weeklong investigation led to the arrest of a 21-year-old man accused of possessing child exploitation material.
According to the sheriff’s office, members of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force executed a search warrant at the home of Brandon Cobb after receiving multiple cyber tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Those tips indicated that someone at the residence had been viewing illegal material online.
Investigators say they used several investigative techniques to identify Cobb as the suspect. During an interview, agents say Cobb admitted to viewing the illegal content on his phone and exchanging images and videos with others through the Telegram and Signal messaging apps.
Detectives seized Cobb’s device for a full forensic examination, where they expect to uncover additional material.
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Cobb was arrested and charged with 10 counts of Possession of Material Depicting Sexual Performance of a Child. He was taken to the Brevard County Jail on a $350,000 bond. The Sheriff’s Office says more charges are possible as the digital forensics team continues to review the device.
In a statement, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey urged parents to stay vigilant, saying “the internet has become an opportunity for bad people with evil in their heart to prey upon our children,” and encouraged families to stay connected to what their kids are doing online to help keep them safe.
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The investigation remains active.