A Brooksville man is being held without bond after investigators from the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) charged him with multiple counts of possessing child pornography on his social media account.
HCSO Public Relations Manager Denise Moloney said that in November detectives received information that Brooksville resident Michael Ray Groves, 57, was in possession of multiple pieces of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) in his social media account.
Later a warrant was issued to his social media provider. Acting on that warrant, investigators searched Groves’ on-line account, and found 73 pieces of CSAM on his social media account.
On Jan. 24, detectives went to Groves’ home at 6979 Corliss Rd. where he admitted to owning the social media account and to possessing and viewing the CSAM files that it contained.
Detectives subsequently arrested Groves and charged him with 73 counts of possessing child pornography, and with one count of unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
He is being held at the Hernando County Detention Center without bond.
The investigation into the case continues.
Meanwhile, anyone who has information about this or any case involving the possession of child pornography should call Hernando County Crime Stoppers at 866-990-TIPS (8477), text **TIPS from a cell phone, or submit a tip online at www.hernandocountycrimestoppers.com.
All Crime Stoppers tipsters remain anonymous and may be eligible for a sash reward of up to $5,000.
