A 75-year-old Safety Harbor man who served as director of information technology at Countryside Christian Academy was arrested yesterday and booked into the Pinellas County Jail on nine counts of possession of child pornography, according to investigators. Detectives say the seized material includes both images and videos involving children younger than 8. The school has since fired him and says it is working with law enforcement.
How the investigation unfolded
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Cyber Investigations Unit opened the case after receiving information that child-pornography files were being accessed and shared online, according to Tampa Bay 28. Using online investigative tools, authorities say they traced the activity and identified 75-year-old Safety Harbor resident David Reitmeyer as the suspect. Detectives told reporters they have found no indication so far that the alleged conduct took place on school property.
School responds
Countryside Christian Church, which oversees the academy, released a statement saying it is "deeply grieved and disturbed" by the allegations and has removed Reitmeyer from all positions of responsibility, as reported by ION Tampa Bay. Church leaders said he will not be allowed back on campus. They also said an outside IT firm has been brought in to review systems, reset administrative access and add extra oversight. The church noted it is cooperating with law enforcement and will not comment further while the criminal case is pending.
Charges and booking
Deputies booked Reitmeyer into the Pinellas County Jail on Thursday on nine counts of possession of child pornography, and he remains in custody as the case moves forward, Tampa Bay 28 reported. Investigators say the digital files involve children younger than eight years old. The probe is still active while digital-forensics work is completed, and the sheriff's office has held back additional details pending that review and decisions by prosecutors.
Legal context
Under Florida law, possession, control or intentional viewing of child-pornography material is a crime, and prosecutors can charge each image or file as its own count under Florida Statute 827.071. Penalties depend on the subsection applied and can include felony prison sentences and other long-term consequences.
What authorities say and what to do
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office says its Cyber Investigations and Crimes Against Children units regularly follow up on internet tips and coordinate with national partners in cases involving child sexual exploitation, according to releases from the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. Anyone with information related to this case is asked to call the sheriff's non-emergency line at 727-582-6200 or contact the Crimes Against Children Unit. The investigation remains open, and authorities are encouraging the public to report any tips that might help move it forward.
