Crime & Safety

University Area Man Facing 85 Counts Of Possessing Child Porn

A Tampa man is facing 85 counts of possession of child pornography following a search of his home by the Hillsborough County Sheriff.

TAMPA, FL -- A Tampa man is facing 85 counts of possession of child pornography following a search of his home by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Internet Predator Unit.

Edwin Mendez-Figueroa, 52, of the 900 block of Otto Villa Place in the University of South Florida area, was arrested Thursday after an on-scene forensic examination of his computer. Detectives say they found 85 images and videos of children performing various sexual acts. Detectives are examining other digital devices belonging to Mendez-Figueroa as well and say there could be additional charges.

The sheriff's office began investigating Mendez-Figueroa after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which monitors downloads from pornographic websites.

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Bond is set at $637,500.

Image via Hillsborough Sheriff

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