NEWS RELEASE 21-016 - MARCH 11, 2021
The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office arrested an 18-year-old Sarasota man for Possession and Transmission of Child Pornography.
Detectives received a tip in late February from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) after 10 images depicting child pornography were uploaded to Flickr. Through investigation, detectives utilized the IP address used to upload the images, to identify Rashad Smith, DOB 04/30/02, as the suspect. On Wednesday, detectives executed a search warrant at Smith’s home where they recovered several electronic devices for further processing. Smith was taken into custody and charged with 10 counts of Possession of Child Pornography and a single count of Transmission of Child Pornography. He remains in custody today without bond while the investigation continues.
Smith was also charged on December 22, 2020, with Sexual Battery, after he molested a 4-year-old child. He was released December 29, on $25,000 bond.