- April 23, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
After the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a CyberTip on May 12, saying Steven Card uploaded 19 files of Child Sexual Abuse Material to an online website, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office executed a Search Warrant at a residence in Palm Coast on Sept. 16.
The FCSO Cyber Crimes Unit, Crime Scene Investigation, SWAT, and Major Case Units searched Card’s residence and recovered four additional images of a young child, which was not part of the original CyberTip. The images also displayed what Cyber Crimes Unit investigators believe to be Card’s anatomy, leading the CCU to investigate if Card had any human victims.
During questioning, it was discovered that there was a juvenile victim. Pictures recovered during the search showed a sleeping juvenile. Through investigative techniques and a witness statement, it was confirmed that the juvenile victim was being molested in her sleep. Card is believed to have stored pictures of these events on his cell phone and all electronic devices were seized for continued investigation.
“We have zero tolerance for this disgusting behavior in Flagler County, and this is exactly why I started our Cyber Crimes/ICAC Unit,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “These types of actions could have gone undetected for years if our Cyber Crimes Unit didn’t have a dedicated detective and the capability to investigate these type of internet crimes. If you are a pervert in Flagler County you can’t hide behind a computer screen. Our great detectives will get you and you will spend a very long time in prison.”
Card was arrested and transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility. He’s being charged with Two Counts of Lewd and Lascivious Molestation, One Count of Lewd and Lascivious Exhibition, and one Count of Promoting the Sexual Performance of a Child. He’s being held on no bond.
The investigation is still ongoing and additional charges may be pending in the future.
