Homeland Security Tip Leads to Sarasota Child Porn Arrest

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A 34-year-old Sarasota man faces a long list of charges after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security tipped off local police about his alleged penchant for pornographic pictures of children.

The case against Dannie Ray Horner began to unfold locally when Sarasota Police Det. Megan Buck received a package from Homeland Security back on Jan. 14. Inside that package, Buck found information related to an open investigation that included two DVDs.

The Homeland officer’s investigation involves a suspect who lives in Argentina, but it seems the officer couldn’t help but notice “his target in Argentina trading child pornography” with a person with a local email address, a probable cause affidavit states.

That address was traced to Horner, police said.

The investigation into Horner revealed that he had taken naked photos of a 1-year-old boy in sexually explicit situations, the affidavit states. Those images were traded not only with the person in Argentina, but also recipients in Australia and West Virginia. Horner is also accused of sexually battering the child.

Horner was brought into custody back in January, but the arrest was just recently announced.

Horner faces sexual battery, sexual performance by a child, felony transmission of pornography by electronic device and felony battery of a child by expelling certain fluids of materials charges. If convicted, he could face life in prison.

Horner remained in the Sarasota County Jail Friday without bond.

Photo courtesy of the Sarasota Police Department