A Port Charlotte man was arrested Tuesday after authorities discovered he was in possession of child pornography material following an online investigation.
According to the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, an instant messaging service reported suspicious files to law enforcement on Dec. 21, 2024.
On the same day, Tampa Police Department detectives were already investigating Ashton Michael Bogard, 37, after they say he engaged in sexually explicit conversations with someone he believed to be an underage girl.
Bogard, who is homeless but had been renting a room on Glendale Avenue, was later identified through numerous selfies and tattoos found on the account associated with the uploaded material.
A search warrant served March 24 revealed approximately 27 videos containing child pornography linked to the suspect's account.
Investigators said that the material clearly belonged to the suspect based on the visual evidence.
Sheriff Bill Prummell called the discovery "the embodiment of evil" and emphasized the community's commitment to protecting children.
An arrest warrant was issued April 24, and the man was taken to the Charlotte County Jail, where he later bonded out. However, he was immediately re-arrested on Tampa Police Department charges and is now being held without bond.
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