Polk County detectives say a 47-year-old Mulberry man crossed a horrifying digital line, using artificial intelligence to paste children’s faces onto the bodies of naked adults and create sexualized images.
Authorities identified the suspect as Steven Gugel, who was arrested Wednesday and booked into the Polk County Jail. He is facing eight felony counts and is being held without bond, according to WTSP. Detectives say Gugel admitted using an AI program to manipulate photos, and investigators seized his phone for forensic analysis.
Sheriff Slams Case As “A Disgusting Example”
Sheriff Grady Judd did not mince words, calling the arrest “a disgusting example” and saying the files even shocked seasoned detectives, according to a news release from the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies said the altered files showed the faces of three girls grafted onto the bodies of nude adult women. The sheriff’s office added that the investigation remains active while detectives comb through the seized device for more evidence.
Judd also said that once the criminal case is resolved, Gugel will likely not have access to children, according to WTSP.
Charges, Admission And Ongoing Forensics
Detectives say Gugel admitted to using an AI program to generate the images and that his phone was seized so forensic analysts can dig through its contents. Those findings will be turned over to prosecutors, who will decide the next steps in the case.
Legal Note
Florida law has been updated for the AI era. A 2024 statute explicitly covers AI-made sexual images of minors, creating the offense of “generated child pornography” and making it a third-degree felony to create or possess such material, according to the Florida Senate. The change took effect July 1, 2024, giving prosecutors a specific tool to charge cases involving synthetic or altered child sexual images.
Why Investigators Are Watching AI Cases
Child-protection groups and law enforcement agencies say this is not a one-off problem. Reports involving generative AI are climbing, and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has logged thousands of tips to its CyberTipline tied to AI-generated material, according to data from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
Experts warn that photo-realistic synthetic images can make it harder to tell whether a real child appears in a file, complicating victim identification and evidence collection for cases just like this one.
The Polk County case remains under active investigation, and prosecutors will review the results of ongoing forensic work before taking further action. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
