A monthslong investigation in Riviera Beach has led to the arrest of a 55-year-old man accused of possessing an image involving a child on his cellphone. Detectives say witness accounts, alleged victim interviews and a forensic review of the device helped build the case, which remains open.
Samuel Turner Jr. was taken into custody Wednesday and booked into the Palm Beach County Jail, according to WPBF 25 News. He faces one felony count of possessing, controlling or viewing the sexual performance of a child. Turner denied the allegations and told detectives that minors had used his phone to record videos and take pictures, the report said.
What The Charge Means Under Florida Law
Under Florida Statute 827.071(5)(a), knowingly soliciting, possessing, controlling or intentionally viewing material that includes child pornography is a third-degree felony, according to the Florida Legislature. The statute also says each image can constitute a separate offense, with additional distinctions when more than one child appears in the same image.
According to a probable-cause account summarized by WPBF 25 News, the investigation began in May after a report was made to Florida's abuse hotline. Detectives obtained warrants to seize and search Turner's cellphone, interviewed witnesses and alleged victims, and found pictures that matched descriptions previously provided to investigators. The case remains under investigation.
