A months-long child exploitation investigation in Hillsborough County has led to the arrest of a Tampa man who deputies say was stockpiling illegal images involving both children and animals. Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested 56-year-old Matthew McGuinness on March 13 after roughly two months of work, and the agency says he now faces about 100 counts tied to child pornography and three counts related to sexual images with animals. Detectives are still going through electronic evidence, and the case remains very much active.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest in a post on X, saying McGuinness was taken into custody on March 13 after a two-month investigation into child sexual abuse material and bestiality. According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, he faces 100 counts of solicitation or possession of child pornography and three counts of “film, distribute, or possess image or video of sexual activity with an animal.”
Investigation and charges
HCSO said its Internet Predator Unit led the probe, which involved search warrants and forensic analysis of electronic devices. Officials have not identified any alleged victims or named possible co-conspirators, citing the ongoing nature of the case.
Under Florida law, possession of 10 or more images of child sexual abuse material can trigger sentence reclassification and steeper penalties, and each image can be charged separately under Florida statute 827.071 and section 775.0847, according to the Florida Senate. That reclassification can elevate a third-degree felony to a second-degree felony, increasing maximum prison exposure from about five years to as much as 15 years for qualifying counts, as courts have noted in similar cases. In other words, the numbers can add up fast.
HCSO Internet Predator Unit activity
The sheriff’s office has repeatedly credited its Internet Predator Unit, along with tips from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, with uncovering large caches of abusive material in recent years. In November 2025, HCSO arrested a school employee after forensic searches reportedly turned up hundreds of graphic files, according to the agency, and local outlets have documented similar stings across the Tampa area. For one such case, see reporting by FOX 13 Tampa Bay.
What comes next
The investigation into McGuinness remains ongoing, and the Sheriff’s Office has said it will share updates through its public affairs channels as detectives continue to review digital evidence. Anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact HCSO’s Public Affairs unit or submit tips to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, which partners with local law enforcement on child sexual abuse material cases.
