FCSO Cyber Crimes Unit Charges Man With 30 Counts Of Child Porn Possession

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Palm Coast, FL - An investigation by the Flagler County Sheriff's Cyber Crimes Unit that started on New Year's Eve 2019, results in the arrest of 46-year-old Mario Arnez Arter on 30 counts of Possession of Child Pornography. 

The investigation led to a search warrant being issued at a home on Cold Spring Court in Palm Coast on April 7.  A number of electronic devices were seized and forensic analysis of the devices was conducted.  Numerous images and videos of child pornography were found. Other agencies involved in the execution of the search warrant are FCSO Crime Scene Investigators (CSI), members from Volusia County Sheriff’s Office (VCSO), and the North Florida ICAC Task Force.

An arrest warrant was issued for Arter on April 30. Because of the number of images recovered as well as the types of behavior seen in the images, the charges were reclassified from third-degree felonies to second-degree felonies. 

Arter was located in Jacksonville on May 9 by Florida Highway Patrol and brought back to Flagler County.  He remains in the Flagler County Jail on a $100,000 bond.

“Our proactive Cybercrimes Unit did a great job and exactly why we started the unit just a few months ago,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “Throughout this sick and disturbing investigation, Detective Lashbrook built a strong case against this pervert. Anyone else engaged in this type of disgusting behavior in our community should stop immediately or you might just be the next one on our radar. We will not tolerate crimes against children in Flagler County. Thank you to VCSO and the North Florida ICAC Task Force for their assistance with this case.”

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