Recent Florida Arrests for Child Sexual Abuse Material

April 1, 2023 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense, Sex Crimes Social Share

A person who is convicted of possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) can face harsh penalties in Florida. Two recent cases highlight how many charges a person may be facing after police find traces of illegal content on your digital devices.

This page will provide information on two recent cases in Florida, along with relative information on child pornography charges in Florida.

Two Recent Incidents

The following are two recent cases in Florida where an individual has been arrested for possessing child pornography:

• Joshua Tylerbest – Miami Police arrested the 27-year-old former contestant of “The Bachelorette” at his condo on February 23^rd, 2023. According to the report, Tylerbest allegedly uploaded 50 images of child sexual abuse material to a Google account.

The downloaded content included both images and videos, with adults engaged in sexual activities with young boys and girls. Some of the victims in the illicit content depicted babies as well.

According to the report by TMZ, there have been no comments made from Tylerbest’s costars from the reality tv show. Tylerbest has since been charged with over a dozen child pornography offenses. He has pleaded not guilty and has a court date set for June.

• Michael T. Dolce – Federal prosecutors have arrested the 53-year-old West Palm Beach attorney for possessing child pornography. Dolce’s job was representing victims of child sexual abuse.

According to the report, the FBI appeared at Dolce’s apartment in West Palm Beach on March 15^th, 2023. The detectives found child sexual abuse material being actively downloaded to Dolce’s device using a peer-to-peer software. Upon further inspection, nearly 2,000 images and videos of child pornography were discovered. The youngest victim depicted was a child as young as five-years-old.

Dolce’s phone was seized by police as well, and his background displayed an image of a woman between 16 and 25 displayed in sexual intercourse with two men.

Dolce is expected to appear in court Thursday to be informed of all the child pornography charges against him.

The following is a statement provided by a spokesperson from Dolce’s law firm:

“The firm is stunned and saddened by these appalling allegations. Michael Dolce was terminated and is no longer affiliated with the firm. We are focused on attending to the needs of our clients and staff, and continuing to cooperate fully with the investigation.”

The Harsh Reality of Child Pornography Charges

In Florida, some of the harshest criminal sanctions are given to those who are found guilty of possessing and distributing child pornography. This is due to the State’s ability to stack charges by individually charging each image as a separate charge.

Florida Statute Section 827.071(5) explains that a person is in the possession of child pornography if they knowingly obtain, control, or view images or videos which are considered child pornography. This can include images, movies, exhibitions, representations, data files, or any other presentation that displays the sexual conduct of a child.

The charge for possession of child pornography offense is considered a third-degree felony in Florida. The penalties for a third-degree felony include up to a $5,000 fine and up to five years in prison.

According to Florida Statute Section 775.0847(2), a person can be charged with Aggravated Possession of Child Pornography if they are found with ten or more pieces of content which are considered to be child pornography where at least one of the images contains the following:

• A minor who is younger than 5-years-old;
• Sexual battery involving a child;
• Sexual bestiality involving a child;
• Sadomasochistic abuse involving a child; or
• A movie which displays a child, regardless of the length or inclusion of sound.

Aggravated Possession of Child Pornography is considered a second-degree felony in Florida. The penalties for a second-degree felony include up to a $10,000 fine and up to 15 years in prison.

Since each image of child pornography is usually charged as a separate offense, that makes an aggravated possession charge a derivative crime. That means the defendant could be convicted of both simple possession and aggravated possession of child pornography.

Additional penalties for any child pornography conviction include being placed on sex offender probation and being placed on the Florida Sex Offender Registry. A registered sex offender must abide by specific regulations, which would limit them from working or interacting with children. Not only will this affect your professional life by losing job opportunities, but it will also affect your personal life. The social stigma of being classified as a registered sex offender bears a heavy weight.

With each count of a possession offense adding more and more years of possible imprisonment, it makes finding a skilled defense attorney that much more important when dealing with a child pornography case.

Finding a Defense Attorney in Tallahassee, Florida

When dealing with a child pornography case, finding the right defense attorney is a top priority. Given the nature of the offense, you need an attorney who is going to review all of the case details, look for any holes in the State’s case, and build a strong defense. It is not uncommon for explicit content to end up on your devices without your knowledge or consent. To find out about how a computer virus can frame you for child pornography, read our page here.

Pumphrey Law Firm represents clients across the state of Florida for various criminal accusations. Don Pumphrey and his team of attorneys will stand in your corner and fight for your freedom. Contact us today for a free consultation by calling (850) 681-7777 or leave an online message on our website.

Written by Karissa Key

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