FLORIDA
TBO
Nine men, including a church worker and a member of the military, are under arrest after a child pornography investigation in Polk County.
Sheriff’s office investigators, executing search warrants Tuesday and Wednesday, also found that two of the men sexually molested two children under the age of 16. …
The conversation with Crump led detectives to Bell, 40, of 203 Keystone Road in Auburndale, as a suspect who engages in sexually battering children – two juvenile boys under the age of 16 years old. Bell was charged with seven counts of sexual battery on victim under 18 years old, two counts of lewd exhibition on a victim under 16 years of age; and two counts of negligent child abuse.
Through the investigation of Crump and Bell, detectives identified Crump’s partner and roommate, Timothy Peargin, 54, of 1880 Crystal Lake Drive North #44, in Lakeland, as knowing about but not reporting the sexual abuse of the children and the distribution of child pornography. Peargin told detectives he has been in a relationship with Crump for approximately six years, and has known about the child pornography for approximately four years. Peargin is the organist and choir director at St. David’s Episcopal Church on Edgewood Drive in Lakeland. Peargin told detectives he suspected there might be sexual abuse of children at the residence and knew he should have reported it, and the child pornography, but was giving Crump “one more chance to never do that again.” He is charged with one count of failing to report child abuse.
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