Attorney General James Uthmeier Announces Arrest of Pasco Predator for Child Sexual Abuse Material Possession

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that Joseph Dearborn, 36, of New Port Richey, was arrested and charged with 15 counts of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM) and one count of Promotion of a Sexual Performance by a Child. 

“If it has not already been made abundantly clear, Florida is the wrong place to be a predator,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “I will stop at nothing to protect our kids. I am grateful for the prosecutors and law enforcement officers who got this criminal off the streets.”

On January 16, 2026, Dearborn’s IP address was identified during an undercover internet operation conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) targeting persons using Peer-to-Peer network on eDonkey software to traffic/distribute CSAM.

A search warrant was executed by FDLE at Dearborn’s New Port Richey residence on May 13, 2026. Electronic devices, including a desktop computer, were seized, and Dearborn was arrested on the scene.

A forensic extraction of the desktop computer revealed over 1,000 CSAM files downloaded to the device.

If convicted on all charges, Dearborn faces up to 90 years in the Florida Department of Corrections.

This case will be prosecuted by Special Counsel Rita Peters in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida.

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