Hillsborough County detectives say a Brandon man is behind bars after a disturbing haul of illegal files turned up in his home.
Investigators arrested 43-year-old James Da Costa at his Brandon residence after, they say, a forensic check of his electronic devices revealed hundreds of child sexual abuse files and dozens of bestiality videos. He was booked into the Orient Road Jail and remains in custody on multiple felony counts, according to jail records.
Arrest and charges
Jail records cited by WTSP list Da Costa facing 100 counts of solicitation or possession of child pornography, 85 counts of filming, distribution or possession of images or videos of sexual activity with an animal, and one count of unlawful use of a two-way communications device. The individual counts correspond to the digital files deputies say they pulled from his phones and other electronic devices.
What deputies say
In a news release, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said detectives uncovered “hundreds” of files containing child sexual abuse material and identified 85 videos that allegedly showed sexual activity involving animals. Investigators said some of the material had been obtained through the dark web and that the agency's Internet Predator Unit executed a search warrant at the Brandon residence before seizing Da Costa's devices.
Sheriff's response
Sheriff Chad Chronister described the material as “sickening crimes that have no place in our community,” according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. He added that deputies will continue targeting people who create, trade or consume child sexual abuse material, signaling that this case is one of a wider slate of ongoing exploitation crackdowns.
How probes typically start
Many online child-exploitation cases begin when social media platforms or internet service providers flag suspected content and send reports to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. From there, tips are routed to local agencies, where detectives follow digital breadcrumbs, trace IP addresses and analyze devices before seeking court-approved search warrants and making arrests.
Legal implications
The allegations in this case fall under Florida laws covering sexual performance by a child and sexual activities involving animals, statutes that classify possession, distribution and production of such material as felonies. The relevant state provisions include sexual performance by a child (F.S. 827.071) and sexual activities involving animals (F.S. 828.126), which outline the elements of each crime and potential penalties as the case proceeds through the court system.
What happens next
The sheriff's office says the investigation remains active and is asking anyone with additional information to contact its tip line listed in the agency's news release. Further developments in the case, including formal charges and court hearings, will be reflected in public records as prosecutors review the evidence and detectives complete their analysis of the seized digital files.
