Tampa Man Faces 100 Counts Of Child Pornography

Tampa, FL — A 45-year-old Tampa man faces 100 counts of possession of child pornography after Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies completed an investigation into his activities.

According to the agency, deputies executed a warrant to search Stephen Christopher Gatto’s Samsung Galaxy S3 phone on June 30.

“A complete forensic review of the cell phone revealed over 100 image files of child pornography, which depicted children approximately 6 to 16 years of age either posing or engaged in sexual activities,” an email from the agency said.

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Another warrant was served Wednesday, this time to search Gatto’s Halliday Park Drive home. Deputies seized several electronic devices that will now be reviewed, the email said.

Gatto, whose home is near Frank D. Miles Elementary School, was brought into custody Wednesday. Gatto remained in the Hillsborough County Jail Thursday in lieu of $750,000 bond, according to jail records.

Deputies have not said how they were tipped off about Gatto's alleged activities. They have said, however, that additional charges may be pending once the review of items seized Wednesday is complete.

Booking photo courtesy of the Hillsborough County Jail