Child Porn Sting: 2 Carrollwood Men Arrested

A crackdown on child pornography by the county’s Internet Predator Unit concluded April 18 with two men from the Carrollwood area behind bars on a number of charges.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office unit conducted a two-month-long investigation related to child pornography and distribution, according to a media release. On Thursday, deputies carried out court-ordered searches of two homes in Carrollwood, ultimately leading to the two arrests.

Here are the details in each case:

Eric Wiley Knight, 23

A home at 4915 Oakshire Drive was searched around 7:15 a.m. April 18.

“Two computers and several digital media items were seized,” the release said. “Subsequent computer forensic revealed that Knight was in possession of files depicting children approximately 3 years old to 13 years of age, engaged in sexual activities.”

Post-arrest, Knight told deputies he had downloaded child pornography.

Knight faces 21 counts of possession of child pornography and seven counts of distribution of child pornography. He was being held in the Hillsborough County Jail April 19 on $420,000 bond.

Michael James Navas, 30
Deputies searched a home at 14103 Basin St. around 9:45 a.m. April 18.

Two computers and digital media items were also seized in this case, the release said.

“Subsequent computer forensic revealed that Michael Navas was in possession of files depicting children approximately 3 years to approximately 13 years of age engaged in sexual activities,” the release said.

Post-arrest, Navas admitted to downloading the images.

Navas faces 73 counts of child pornography. He was being held in the Hillsborough County Jail April 19 on $1,095,000 bond.

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