Editor’s Note: This story contains discussions of child abuse that may be disturbing. Reader discretion is advised. If you suspect a child is being abused, find out how to report it in your state here. To connect with a counselor, you can call the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4253.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri on Tuesday announced the arrest of a mother charged with dozens of offenses related to child pornography and multiple counts of capital sexual battery.
The sheriff said the woman was charged with over 40 offenses related to child pornography and four counts of capital sexual battery. At the request of the sheriff’s office, the woman’s name is being withheld from this article to protect the victim’s identity.
This spring, the mother filmed over a dozen “grotesque” videos where her 11-year-old daughter, at her direction, posed and performed various sex acts. Gualtieri said some of the videos involved sexual acts between the mother and daughter and others involved the family dog.
The mother sent the photos and videos to a 38-year-old man, who was not named in the news conference because he is still under investigation. Gualtieri said the pair likely met online and PCSO detectives are working to determine if the videos were sent to additional people.
The suspect remained in the Pinellas County Jail on Tuesday. She could face the death penalty if convicted of capital sexual battery.
In her first court appearance, the woman’s case was assigned to the public defender’s office and she was ordered to not have contact with her daughter.