A 27-year-old resident from Lake City in Columbia County was taken into custody by detectives on Tuesday afternoon as part of an investigation stemming from the discovery of his possession of child pornography created using artificial intelligence.
The investigation, which commenced in November 2023 after receiving a cyber-tip about potential possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), uncovered digital images in the individual’s possession depicting explicit content involving cartoon characters and other computer-generated graphics. Initial findings indicated that the man, a registered sexual predator, did not have any illegal images of real individuals, thus avoiding legal violations at that time.
The man admitted to detectives that he turned to viewing cartoon images of children as a way to cope with personal challenges. He expressed uncertainty about the progression of his inclinations over time.
Following leads from the man’s statements about his preferences, law enforcement officials discovered child pornography involving actual victims when they obtained consent to search his electronic devices.
During questioning by law enforcement, the man confessed to concealing information about his social media profiles, a requirement for registered sex offenders.
Deputy Mark Hunter from Columbia County praised the dedicated work of the detectives involved in the case, highlighting their thorough investigation beyond surface details to prevent potential harm to children in the community.
The individual is now facing charges related to child exploitation and failure to comply with internet registration regulations.
