A Florida man arrested last month on five child pornography charges had more than 1,000 additional charges lodged against him.
Highlands County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Johnathan Jhovanni Hernandez, 23, December 29 for two counts each of possession of and transmitting child pornography. Hernandez was further charged with using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony, according to law enforcement.
While Hernandez was free after posting bond, investigators searched one of the 15 electronic devices seized from the suspect upon his arrest. The search by Special Victims Unit investigators uncovered an astounding amount of additional child pornography.
When he was arrested, Highland County Sheriff Paul Blackman noted the investigation was just getting started and there would likely be more charges. “What we should have said was there would likely be A LOT more charges,” he said in the statement, “like more than anyone in our county … ever.”
Hernandez was rearrested Tuesday and charged with an additional 1,182 counts of possession of child pornography. He also faces four charges for possessing images of bestiality, police said.
“There is no telling how many charges he could face if detectives went through all the devices,” Blackman said.
“Detectives say Hernandez’s collection of child porn is the largest they have ever seen,” the sheriff added. “As it stands now, Hernandez is being held on a bond of just over $2.4 million and has enough charges to possibly land him life in prison.”
The initial arrest capped a months-long investigation begun after authorities received a tip from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, according to a New York Post report.
Scroll down to leave a comment and share your thoughts.