Headline Surfer photo illustration / ABOVE: Fired Daytona Beach police officer Brandon Fox, 22, is shown along with generic images illustrating the victimization of innocent children over the internet by kiddie porn purveyors. Fox allegedly shared more than two dozen explicit pics of pre-pubescent girls in various sex acts and suggestive poses. BELOW: Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young does not mince words in describing the arrest of one of his own officers.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- A 22-year-old Daytona Beach cop has been fired from the police force after two years on the job following his arrest for allegedly sharing child pornography online.
Police Chief Jakari Young was incensed about the situation, describing it as a "sickening crime."
Brandon Fox, 22, who had been with the Daytona Beach Police Department for two years, was charged with seven felony counts of possession of child pornography.
The Daytona Beach Police Department department received an internal report about an adult male sharing child pornography via a social media app, including images and videos of sexual acts involving children under 10 years old, according to a statement released by Daytona Beach PD.
That individual turned out to be Brandon Fox, a sworn officer with Daytona for the past two years.
The incident, which led to Fox's arrest, was internally reported and investigated by the DBPD, Police Chief Jakari Young said. adding police received information about a person sharing child pornography via a social media app, including images and videos of sexual acts involving children under 10 years of age.
The fired cop was released from the Volusia County Jail in Daytona Beach early Thursday after posting $70,000 bail.
Police Chief Young did not mince words in putting out an extensive condemnation of one of his own, Fox, who he immediately even before his arrest on a warrant alleging multiple felonies signed by Circuit Judge Elizabeth Blackburn on Wednesday.
"The Daytona Beach Police received information regarding individuals sharing child pornography via a social media app to include images and videos of sexual acts involving children under 10 years of age. The department’s Advanced Technology and Cybercrime’s (ATAC) unit promptly began an inquiry into this sickening crime, after further investigation, it was determined that the suspect, in this case, was Officer Brandon Fox."
Police Chief Young did not mince words in putting out an extensive condemnation of one of his own, Fox, who he immediately even before his arrest on a warrant alleging multiple felonies signed by Circuit Judge Elizabeth Blackburn on Wednesday. "The Daytona Beach Police received information regarding individuals sharing child pornography via a social media app to include images and videos of sexual acts involving children under 10 years of age. The department’s Advanced Technology and Cybercrime (ATAC) unit promptly began an inquiry into this sickening crime, after further investigation, it was determined that the suspect, in this case, was Officer Brandon Fox."
Police Chief Young did not mince words in putting out an extensive condemnation of one of his own, Fox, who he immediately even before his arrest on a warrant alleging multiple felonies signed by Circuit Judge Elizabeth Blackburn on Wednesday.
"The Daytona Beach Police received information regarding individuals sharing child pornography via a social media app to include images and videos of sexual acts involving children under 10 years of age. The department’s Advanced Technology and Cybercrime (ATAC) unit promptly began an inquiry into this sickening crime, after further investigation, it was determined that the suspect, in this case, was Officer Brandon Fox."
Young continued: "Fox is 22 years old and has been with the department for 2 years. A judge issued an arrest warrant on (7) counts of possession of child pornography with a $70,000 bond. Fox was taken into custody and transported to the Volusia County Branch Jail without incident. A search warrant was executed at his residence and additional charges may be filed as the investigation continues. Fox was immediately terminated from the Daytona Beach Police Department."
The police chief added: "This incident, which led to the arrest of one of our own officers was internally reported and investigated by the Daytona Beach Police Department. Our response to this incident echoes our commitment to hold not only the community but even our own officers responsible for their actions. Anyone found to be in violation of the law, including members of law enforcement who are sworn to protect and serve will be held accountable."
Young emphasized Fox did not use a police department computer to share child pornography.
Police investigation launched a month ago
Last month, the Daytona Beach Police Department’s Advanced Technology and Cybercrime unit launched an investigation after receiving a tip about a child porn distribution ring that was being run on a social media app.
Cops made a disturbing discovery: The pervert distributing images of child sexual abuse on the app — was one of their own - 22-year-old Brandon Fox.
After discovering that Fox was the culprit, police then got a judge to issue issued an arrest warrant for Fox on the seven counts and he was taken into police custody without incident. The same judge also granted police a warrant to search Fox's Daytona-area residence. That warrant could net additional charges, police said.
Fox faces seven counts of possession of sexual performance by a child, a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in state prison if convicted. A judge could impose a concurrent sentence or add up to five years for each of the counts for a maximum of 35 years in prison if adjudicated guilty of the charges. Fox also might have to registerer as a child sex offender, if found guilty.
Fox has retained the legal services of prominent Daytona Beach private criminal defense attorney Aaron Delgado, who has already entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf and waived his appearance at an upcoming pre-trial.
About the Byline Writer: Henry Frederick is a member of the working press and publisher of Headline Surfer, the award-winning 24/7 internet news outlet launched in 2008 along the I-4 tourism corridor in greater Daytona Beach to Orlando from Lake Mary, Florida via HeadlineSurfer.com. Frederick has amassed 115 award-winning bylines in print & online. He earned his Master of Arts in New Media Journalism from Full Sail University in 2019. He was a breaking news reporter (metro cops & courts beat) for the Daytona Beach News-Journal for nearly a decade. And Before that worked the same beat for The Journal-News/Gannett Suburban Newspapers in Rockland/Westchester counties, NY, dating back to 1989. Having witnessed the execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Florida's death chamber and covering other high-profile cases such as the George Zimmerman murder trial, Frederick has appeared on national crime shows on Discovery ID, Reelz, and the Oxygen Network series "Snapped" for his analysis. AWJ: