Child Pornography and the latest news

A former Charlotte County sheriff’s sergeant was arrested by federal authorities Tuesday for allegedly possessing nearly two dozen child pornography videos and photographs on his desktop and laptop computers.

Kenneth Sylvester Barton, 62, of the 2400 block of Aquilos Court, Port Charlotte, was the subject of a late April investigation in which the FBI reportedly matched his Internet Protocol address to recent downloads from child pornography sites.

According to the charging document from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Fort Myers, Barton possessed images focusing on prepubescent females ranging from 7 to 10 years old.

Federal authorities conducted a search of Barton’s home on Tuesday, according to the charging document, seizing his laptop and desktop computers, external hard drives and a Kindle Touch.

According to the charging document, Barton allegedly downloaded many of the pornographic videos as recently as May and this month.

This is not the first time Barton has been accused of sexual misconduct. He abruptly left his 30-year career with the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office on Dec. 12, 2007, after an Internal Affairs investigation found that he had had a sexual relationship with a female member of the CCSO Explorers program in 2007 who was between 16 and 17 years old at the time.

The internal affairs report states Barton had sex multiple times with the female while on duty, often in the back of his patrol vehicle while he served as the head of that particular Explorer post in Englewood.

The documents also state Barton had sex with the minor during Explorer camping trips, and purchased gifts for her.

Despite having sex with an underage girl, Barton was not found in violation of the law, due to the consensual nature of the relationship, instead violating the CCSO’s code of conduct, the report states. He was charged with conduct unbecoming in connection with the incident, a charge that was sustained by investigators.

In 2007, Barton also was accused of capital sexual battery on a female family member between 6 and 10 years old. The report states Barton was accused of having sexual encounters with the family member when she came to visit.

The report states Barton apologized to investigators for “anything he might have done” when questioned, and he was “sorry for hurting” the family member. Barton was allowed to clean out his office and retrieve his belongings in late July 2007 from the Charlotte County Justice Center, where he was working as a bailiff at the time. His final day of employment was not until early December, nearly five months later, according to his personnel file.

It was not known Tuesday why charges weren’t filed.

Barton remains in the Lee County Jail, where he awaits an appearance before a federal magistrate on Thursday.

WHAT THE HECK! WHY DIDN'T CCSO FIRE HIM AFTER HIS SEXUAL ENCOUNTER WITH A CCSO EXPLORER?????

ALL OF THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED! THIS IS A MESSED UP SITUATION! ITS SAD HOW HE GOT AWAY WITH ALLLLLLL THIS STUFF BUT PEOPLE LIKE G. PAUL GET LET GO FOR SOMETHING STUPID! WOW WHERE ARE THE PRIORITIES AT!

Covers ups gone bad!

The CCSO is a congregation of clowns and rejects. Sad that the population you're supposed to protect disdains you.

The CCSO is a congregation of clowns and rejects. Sad that the population you're supposed to protect disdains you.

Great quote Enstein. So you think that because (1) Deputy is arrested for child pornography that all of CCSO is a congregation of clowns and rejects ? In February 2008, a U.S. Marine was accused of raping a young Japanese girl. Does this mean that all U.S. Marines are "baby rapers?" So does this also mean that because (1) black person sells crack that they all do ? Or if a white female sleeps for people for crack that all females are crack whore ? In whatever job you do or any ethnic / racial group you belong to, you always have that 10% that ruins that groups image. CCSO has a lot of good Deputies but they do have a few bad ones too. Much like at whatever job you did or do, I am sure that you had your good eggs and also had your bad ones. But, sometimes in order to see this, you have to look past the bad to find the good.

CCSO Deputy

[Stealth™]

I have a link here but it is to a differnt site:

http://www.winknews.com/Lights-Siren...graphy-charges

This guy has convictions all the way back to the '90s. This is crazy!

[Mod 610]

There is nothing stating in the article about convictions go back to the 90's. Sorry that was the link to the Daily News not the one originally posted.

There is nothing stating in the article about convictions go back to the 90's

Does the article say that this was one of the many cover ups by administration?
If this was prevented from the beginning others would have not been hurt. The kick in the ass is that he was able to retire out and collect a pension. Shame on you and your cover ups. This is one of many and it will bite you in the ass, watch...............

The CCSO turned over everything they had to the SAO for a warrant and the SAO said no. If there is corruption anywhere its the SAO. Seeing that Barton was in charge of court house security at the time of the investigation his ties with them may have influenced their decision not to pursue charges. In case some of you don’t know the CCSO does not charge people with crimes the SAO does. That power rests with them. If they say no there is no case.

The CCSO turned over everything they had to the SAO for a warrant and the SAO said no. If there is corruption anywhere its the SAO. Seeing that Barton was in charge of court house security at the time of the investigation his ties with them may have influenced their decision not to pursue charges. In case some of you don’t know the CCSO does not charge people with crimes the SAO does. That power rests with them. If they say no there is no case.

Anyone else would have been arrested by CCSO. The sheriff dept. had a family member come forward. But, it was COVERED UP. Then it happened again. CCSO makes arrests everyday and then the SAO reviews what information they have been provided. Ask MC what info he had and what he did with it.

The CCSO turned over everything they had to the SAO for a warrant and the SAO said no. If there is corruption anywhere its the SAO. Seeing that Barton was in charge of court house security at the time of the investigation his ties with them may have influenced their decision not to pursue charges. In case some of you don’t know the CCSO does not charge people with crimes the SAO does. That power rests with them. If they say no there is no case.

Anyone else would have been arrested by CCSO. The sheriff dept. had a family member come forward. But, it was COVERED UP. Then it happened again. CCSO makes arrests everyday and then the SAO reviews what information they have been provided. Ask MC what info he had and what he did with it.

If it was covered up then why does everybody know about and why was it included in the official report. You aren't LE by your statements. If you were you would know that in cases like this we obtain a warrant before making an arrest. Peddle your paranoia about the CCSO somewhere else. The SAO for one reason or another decided not to pursue charges on Barton. You'd have to ask them why. Their reason given at the time was they wouldn't be able to get a convection.