At a news conference in Naples, Attorney General James Uthmeier detailed the steep penalties for three men who were convicted on multiple sex-offense charges.
“These cases are gut wrenching,” Uthmeier said. “There were six individuals sharing hundreds and hundreds of images.”
Uthmeier’s Office of Statewide Prosecution secured prison sentences totaling 79 and a half years against three of those convicted of child pornography offenses. Many of the cases stemmed from initial contact between the convicted and children starting with online messaging often on social media platforms, Uthmeier said.
“If there are deviants out there that want to chat with minors … we are going to find them and we are going to take them down,” Uthmeier said.
“We’re throwing the book at these predators. Our statewide prosecutors have already secured over 800 years in prison sentences for crimes against children (in previous cases). Predators should know that if they come after children, they will lose their freedom.”
The three sentenced to prison include:
— Robert Caesar Carrion, 43, of Cape Coral, sentenced to 28 years after being convicted on 25 counts of possession of child pornography.
— William Leroy Johnson Jr., 56, of Okeechobee, pleaded and was adjudicated guilty on 15 counts of possession of child pornography and sentenced to 27 years.
— Wayne Adams, 62, of Okeechobee, entered an open plea of no contest to 14 counts of possession of child pornography and was sentenced to 24 and a half years.
Others who’ve been convicted but are awaiting sentencing include Eduardo Antonio Arango Ruiz, 70, of Cape Coral, who was convicted of 20 counts of possession of child pornography and set for sentencing on Nov. 2. And Chandler Christian Jones, 30, of Naples, who was convicted of possession of child sexual abuse material, soliciting a child and transmission of child pornography, is set for sentencing Nov. 12.
One other suspect, Jeffery Howard Oppold, 70, of Bonita Springs, is awaiting trial on charges of possession of child pornography.
Since Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed him Attorney General last year, Uthmeier has taken a personal role in many child predator cases alongside his other legal fights. He said Wednesday his Office has been involved in 2,100 child predator arrests in the past year and a half.
Uthmeier even filed lawsuits against social media platforms he alleges enabled child predators.
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