Photos for Headline Surfer / Mathew Brockelbank, a 20-year-old student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, was arrested by Daytona Beach Police on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, on more than two dozen felony counts of child pornography.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- A 20-year-old student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, was arrested Thursday on 28 felony counts of possessing child pornography, Daytona Beach cops said.
The arrest was made after members of DBPD’s Advanced Technology & Cybercrimes Unit confirmed Mathew T. Brockelbank had child pornography in his possession.
Brockelbank was taken into custody at 4:11 p.m. without incident inside an ERAU classroom on the Daytona Beach campus.
ATAC detectives began their investigation in October 2021 after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) that someone had put child pornography onto the Internet using Internet Protocol (IP) addresses assigned to ERAU.
ATAC detectives began their investigation in October 2021 after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) that someone had put child pornography onto the Internet using Internet Protocol (IP) addresses assigned to ERAU.
A subpoena served to ERAU led to detectives discovering that those child porn files were uploaded through the network username ERAU had assigned to Brockelbank when he registered as a student there.
As DBPD’s ATAC Unit worked that tip, a second tip from NCMEC arrived last December. That tip uncovered another child porn file which was uploaded through ERAU’s network via Brockelbank’s username.
Detectives believe Brockelbank used various mobile messaging applications and email accounts to upload those files, which shows young children of various ages engaged in multiple sex acts.
The ATAC Unit uncovered enough at that point to have a search warrant signed by a Volusia County judge, allowing them to enter Brockelbank’s dorm room at 221 Aerospace Boulevard on Wednesday and seize various electronic devices belonging to Brockelbank.
A forensic analysis of one of the seized devices – Brockelbank’s cell phone – turned up 77 child porn files, including photos and videos. Those files are the basis for the 28 felony charges of possession of sexual performance by a child now filed against Brockelbank.
A forensic analysis of one of the seized devices – Brockelbank’s cell phone – turned up 77 child porn files, including photos and videos. Those files are the basis for the 28 felony charges of possession of sexual performance by a child now filed against Brockelbank.
Brockelbank was transported to the Volusia County Jail after his arrest warrant was signed by a Volusia County judge. His initial bond is set at $420,000, or $15,000 per felony count.
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, that serves greater Daytona Beach, Sanford & Orlando from Lake Mary, Florida via HeadlineSurfer.com. Frederick has amassed close to 150 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, Frederick has appeared on national crime documentary shows on Discovery ID, Reelz, and the Oxygen Network series "Snapped" for his analysis. • Award-Winning Journalism: Florida Press Club recognizes Headline Surfer for nine stories in 2020 statewide competition. • Award-Winning Journalism of Henry Frederick.