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Florida Foster Dad Who Cared For At Least 20 Kids Charged With Child Porn, Sexual Abuse
Justin Dwayne Johnson, who has had about 20 foster children over the past three years, is accused of creating child porn and sexually abusing children over the course of years.
A Florida man who was assigned to care for numerous foster children is accused of viewing and creating pornographic videos of various children for years.
Justin Dwayne Johnson, 47, was arrested on Feb. 15, a Thursday press release from the Sanford Police announced.
The department noted that, on Jan. 28, Sanford Police investigators “were notified by Child Protective Services (CPS) of a person wanting to speak with law enforcement about a possible case of child pornography.” On the same day, CPS stated that they “had removed the five children assigned to Johnson’s care through the foster system.”
The investigation was reportedly initiated after a child in the home allegedly discovered a hidden camera in one room, according to Orlando NBC affiliate WESH.
Investigators say they then searched through multiple phones, computers and cameras belonging to Johnson, allegedly uncovering “thousands of images and videos containing child pornography and sexual abuse of multiple children,” according to police. The abuse appears to have occurred “over a number of years with a multitude of victims varying in age,” police allege.
Police did not say in the statement whether any of the children seen in the images were cared for by Johnson, but an arrest report obtained by Orlando CBS affiliate WKMG indicates that authorities allegedly found three videos from an in-home camera of girls changing in a bedroom and another video they classified as child pornography they allegedly confirmed was filmed in the home. According to the Orlando Sentinel, one of the other child pornography video clips allegedly found on Johnson's phone involved a young child in a pink diaper.
Investigators told WESH that the material recovered also includes so-called "upskirt" shots taken up the skirts and dresses of non-consenting women and girls. (Upskirt shots are covered by Florida's "video voyeurism" law and considered a third-degree felony for first-time offenders over age 19 and second degree felonies for habitual offenders.)
The report seen by WKMG indicates that the videos date back at least to 2011. The Orlando Sentinel reported that Johnson's face is allegedly visible in some of the videos recovered by police.
Johnson arrested in Orlando on Feb. 15 and charged with possession of obscene material - 10 or more child pornography images. By Feb. 23, he was extradited to the John E. Polk Correctional Facility in Seminole County where he was additionally charged with three counts of sex offense - video voyeurism with a child less than 16, and two additional counts of possession of obscene material- 10 or more child pornography images
“Johnson’s arrest really marked the beginning of what will be a long and gut-wrenching investigation,” Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith stated on Thursday. "Our initial priority was getting this depraved, sick individual off the streets."
Smith said that the department expects that it will take months to go through the evidence recovered in the case; the lead detective told WKMG that they'd only gone through about 10 percent of the devices obtained.
"We will now continue to focus on strengthening the investigation and identifying the many victims of his disgusting acts," Smith added.
Johnson took care of about 20 foster children over the last three years, most of whom were girls, according to Fox 35 in Orlando. He reportedly also lived with his two adult sons.
Johnson was released on bond on Friday, according to the station. It’s not clear if he has a lawyer.
Sanford Police investigators believe there could be more possible victims connected with the foster dad. Anyone with information is urged to call them at (800) 423-8477.
