Polk County detectives arrested 21-year-old Jackson Booke of Lakeland on July 1, charging him with 15 counts of enhanced possession of child pornography after a cybertip led investigators to files that reportedly showed sexual abuse of children as young as infants.
Investigation and Arrest
PCSO Cyber Crimes detectives traced online uploads to an account linked to Booke, then obtained a search warrant for his home and seized multiple electronic devices, according to Daily Ridge. During what authorities described as an initial review of his desktop computer, investigators said they found 15 images and videos of child sexual abuse material, with victims appearing to range from six months to nine years old. Booke was taken to the Sheriff’s Processing Center and formally charged with 15 counts of enhanced possession of child pornography.
Tip From NCMEC Sparked the Probe
Detectives say the case began when the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children flagged suspicious uploads and sent a referral to local law enforcement. NCMEC’s CyberTipline collects reports from electronic service providers and routes them to the appropriate agencies, per the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Local reporting states that investigators traced an email address and username connected to the uploads back to Booke before executing the search warrant.
Legal Note
According to Polk County officials, the charges are classified as “enhanced” because the suspect allegedly possessed 10 or more images or videos and at least one file involved either a child under five or a sexual battery. Under Florida law, prosecutors can reclassify possession charges to the next higher degree when those conditions are met, which in turn increases potential penalties. The reclassification language appears in Florida statute 775.0847, as published by the Florida Senate.
PCSO's Cyber Unit Has Been Active This Year
Officials say Booke’s case is one of several this year in which Polk County detectives acted on cybertips and seized devices for forensic review, underscoring the agency’s focus on online child exploitation investigations. In January, PCSO detectives arrested an Eagle Lake man after a separate NCMEC tip led to dozens of alleged child abuse files being located on seized devices, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
What Happens Next
All of Booke’s seized devices remain in law enforcement custody for a full forensic analysis, and detectives say additional charges are possible if the review uncovers more material. Booke is being held at the Polk County Jail while investigators continue to sort through the digital evidence, according to authorities.
