During an April 14th news conference, Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis announced the arrest of two Hernando County men on child pornography charges. Steven Francis Sims (48) of 10455 Gifford Drive, Spring Hill, was arrested on April 5th, 2023, and charged with ten counts of Possession of Child Pornography. Following his arrest and the execution of a search warrant, Sims was charged with an additional 90 counts. Nienhuis said that at least one pornographic video in Sims’ possession involved a baby 2-4 months old. Another involved a child 4-6 years old. In all, 153 images or videos were found on Sims’ electronic devices. Nienhuis said he does not know of any local victims but urged any citizens with further information to contact the Sheriff’s Office.
In a separate investigation, Joshua Glenn Bright (42) of 11811 Broad Street Lot 26, Brooksville, was arrested on April 12th and charged with ten counts of Possession of Child Pornography. Nienhuis commented that Blight has an extensive criminal record which includes a 1998 charge in Illinois of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse involving an 11-year-old victim, as well as a previous conviction of kidnapping, for which he served 54 months in prison. Nienhuis said that the new charges could subject Bright to a prison sentence of up to 156 years.
“Thinking about child pornography is repulsive, to say the least, and turns our stomachs,” Nienhuis said. “I don’t think most people can imagine what detectives have to go through because we obviously have to look at it enough to validate that it is actually child pornography and there is actually a child involved.”
Both men are being held without bond.
