A former Pinellas County Sheriff's Office detention deputy has been placed under arrest faced with multiple charges of possessing child pornography. Shortly after his arrest, Trevor Willis, age 33, resigned from his post on July 1st, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
The initial lead that would to ultimately culminate in Willis’ apprehension came from his previous station, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. Detectives with the HCSO's Internet Predator Unit conducted an investigation that included executing a search warrant at Willis's residence in Lutz. In the home, detectives discovered additional illegal content on a social media application tied to the former deputy.
Willis was taken into custody on July 17 without any reported incidents. The number of accusations against him is staggering—nine counts pertaining to the possession of child pornography. These developments have left the local community shook and distressed, considering Willis’ past role as a law enforcer.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister publicly condemned the crimes, stating, "These vile actions have no place in our community, and the betrayal of trust by someone who swore to protect and serve is deeply disturbing." Sheriff Chronister also went on to express his pride in the cooperative effort of the detectives involved: "Their thorough investigation and teamwork have brought this criminal to justice, showing the integrity and commitment we uphold in serving our community," according to a statement issued on the HCSO website.
Further details concerning this case have not been released yet. Updates, as they become available, will be provided by the Public Affairs Office.
