A New Port Richey man is facing a possible 90 years behind bars after state investigators say an undercover cyber sting led them straight to his home computer. Authorities allege that a search of the residence turned up more than 1,000 child sexual abuse material files on a desktop, and prosecutors have charged 36‑year‑old Joseph Dearborn with 15 counts of possession and one count of promoting a sexual performance by a child. If he is convicted on all counts and the sentences are stacked, he faces a statutory maximum of up to 90 years in prison.
Undercover operation and arrest
According to the Florida Attorney General’s office, the case started on Jan. 16, when the Florida Department of Law Enforcement flagged an IP address tied to suspected file‑sharing activity. The tip came out of an undercover internet operation that focused on users of the eDonkey peer‑to‑peer network.
FDLE agents later executed a search warrant at Dearborn’s New Port Richey residence on Wednesday, May 13. Investigators seized multiple electronic devices and took Dearborn into custody at the scene. Officials say the arrest stemmed directly from the cyber investigation and the activity linked to the flagged IP address.
Evidence and charges
Forensic examiners who combed through the seized desktop reported finding more than 1,000 files that authorities classify as child sexual abuse materials. Prosecutors say that trove forms the basis for 15 counts of possession of such materials, plus a separate count of promoting a sexual performance by a child. Tampa Free Press reported that Dearborn was arrested without incident on May 13. Officials have otherwise kept public details to a minimum as the case moves through its early stages.
Legal implications
Under Florida law, prosecutors are allowed to charge each illicit image or file as a separate count. Statutes also treat possession and promotion as distinct offenses with different potential penalties. Florida Statute 827.071 lays out what qualifies as a sexual performance by a child and lists related crimes, while Florida Statute 775.082 sets the maximum prison terms for felonies, including up to 15 years for a second‑degree felony and up to 5 years for a third‑degree felony.
Those sentencing ranges are how prosecutors arrive at the eye‑popping total in this case. Multiple counts can be ordered to run consecutively, which is how the charges against Dearborn add up to a potential 90‑year maximum if a judge stacked each term back to back.
Prosecutors' statement
Attorney General James Uthmeier struck a hard line in a news release, saying, "I will stop at nothing to protect our kids." His office announced that Special Counsel Rita Peters will prosecute the case in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida.
The statement also highlighted FDLE’s role in the investigation and urged anyone with information about online child exploitation to contact law enforcement. Officials framed that public‑facing message as part deterrent and part call for community help tracking digital crimes that are often committed in private spaces.
How this fits into a statewide effort
State leaders have been quick to place Dearborn’s arrest within a broader crackdown on online child exploitation. In earlier remarks about the same enforcement push, the attorney general credited a statewide campaign with roughly 1,400 arrests since 2025. Prosecutors say operations like the one that flagged Dearborn rely heavily on FDLE cyber teams working alongside local and federal partners to identify abusive material and trace it back to specific devices and users.
What's next
Dearborn remains in custody while the case moves forward, and an arraignment date has not yet appeared in public court records. Future filings and hearings in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit are expected to provide the next round of official details. For now, Tampa Free Press has the initial charging information as the case heads into the pretrial phase.
