A Tampa man was arrested on a Lake County warrant for encouraging an elementary school student to send him sexual content.
On Sept. 5, a detective with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by a member of the School Resource Unit regarding a juvenile sending sexual videos to 41-year-old Marcus Bernard Oliver through text, according to an affidavit of probable cause out of Lake County.
The detective arrived at Treadway Elementary School, located at 10619 Treadway School Road in Leesburg, and met with the principal who advised that the juvenile victim was found using a cellphone to cheat on a test during class. The principal stated the phone was taken from the victim, and the dean of the school asked if there was anything on the phone that should not be, the affidavit said.
The juvenile victim admitted there were photographs and videos that were sent in communication with an older man, later identified as Oliver. As such, the detective contacted the victim’s mother who consented to the victim being interviewed and the phone being viewed, the affidavit said.
During questioning, the juvenile victim advised that they received a text message with a picture of a male’s erect penis. A short conversation ensued, during which the victim and the sender, who used two phone numbers, sent photos to each other. These included photos of their faces, the affidavit said.
The juvenile victim stated they had a casual conversation for a little bit, at which time the victim sent a video dancing in a sexual nature with their buttocks exposed, the affidavit said. In the video, the juvenile turned toward the camera and said they could not wait to see the sender. They texted after, asking if the sender “liked it,” to which sender said, “I love it!” All communication stopped after that, the affidavit said.
The detective was able to locate the cellphone providers for the two numbers, one of which was T-Mobile and the other Verizon Wireless. Investigative subpoenas were submitted, and the detective got cellphone records and subscriber information back from T-Mobile on Sept. 12. The subscriber information came back to Oliver, the affidavit said.
The detective ran a check on Oliver and was able to compare his driver’s license photo with the one sent to the juvenile victim. These photos confirmed it to be the same person, the affidavit said.
Oliver was ultimately arrested and taken to Hillsborough County Jail on a Lake County Warrant charging him with sexual performance by a minor. He was transferred to Lake County Jail Tuesday morning with bond set at $25,000.
