Former St. Pete Cop Sentenced To 8 Years For Child Pornography

TAMPA, FL — A former St. Petersburg police officer was sentenced to eight years and one month in federal prison on Wednesday for distribution and possession of child pornography, United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida said.

On Sept. 11, 2019, Homeland Security agents executed a search warrant at 35-year-old Matthew Enhoffer's home. The agency had received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that someone had distributed child pornography on a web-based social media application, according to court documents.

Investigators examined several electronic devices that belonged to Enhoffer, and found 390 child pornographic images, seven child pornographic videos and 290 child erotic images, the state attorney's office said.

Enhoffer pleaded guilty to the charges on Feb. 11, 2020, according to authorities.

“It is especially disheartening when a law enforcement officer becomes the criminal but no person is above the law,” Acting Deputy Special Agent in Charge Micah C. McCombs said in a news release. “Thanks to HSI special agents and outstanding support from the St. Petersburg Police Department, this child predator will be held accountable for his crimes.”

Enhoffer was ordered to pay a $10,000 special assessment to help his victims, authorities said. The court will determine restitution to the victims at a later date.