LAKELAND, Fla. -- Among the men snared in a recent Polk County child porn sting: A former Disney worker, a retired school teacher and a Boy Scout volunteer. 

  • Polk sheriff's Office child porn sting in May
  • Operation Guardians of Innocence II netted the arrest of 11 men
  • 660 felony charges against the suspects

Throughout the month of May 2018, Polk County Sheriff's Computer Crimes detectives served search warrants and made 11 arrests during "Operation Guardians of Innocence II." 

The sting focused on identifying and arresting those involved in the possession, promotion, and distribution of child pornography. 

"If you want to see a poster child of a child predator, of a child pornographer, of a felon, of a very dangerous person there he is," Judd said, pointing to a poster of mug shots. 

A total of 660 felony charges were filed against the suspects, with more charges pending.

"As you know, this is just the beginning," said Polk Sheriff Grady Judd. "Most of the images we saw during this investigation depicted children being sexually battered, that we have seen before - which means we haven't yet identified any local child victims, but as always, that is also a part of our investigation." 

Spectrum Bay News 9 went to the home of suspect Jarrod Whiting. Detectives said he admitted to watching child porn with infants. His dad answered the door and downplayed the whole thing.

"That charge is a joke because he is only watching," said Jerome Whiting. "He didn't make it. He has nothing to do with it. It was sent to him and he just got caught up in watching it."

That explanation didn't impress the sheriff.

"He was only watching it. That makes me feel so much better that he is just re-victimizing the child instead of originally victimizing the child," Judd said. "So if you're only watching it and not making it you're only half the pervert?"

Among those arrested: 

  • Edward Zaborowski III, 48 
  • Richard Cousins, 64 
  • Bruce Nopper, 51
  • Rickie Vargas-Garcia, 30
  • Don Carrier, 84 
  • Roger Catey, 53
  • Matthew Sentz, 35
  • Jarrod Whiting, 24
  • Alejandro Baltazar II, 20 
  • Donald Marich, 69

Per a Disney spokesperson, Roger Catey, the man identified as a former Disney employee, was dismissed from his employment from the company effective June 4.

A search warrant was executed in Kissimmee, where a 16-year-old boy lives.

Detectives received a NCMEC tip that child pornography files were being downloaded to a Dropbox account. Detectives responded to the home and talked with his parents, and then responded to Haines City High School to talk to the suspect. He admitted to viewing images depicting children as young as infants.

During an initial preview of his cell phone, detectives located files depicting child pornography with victims as young as 12-24 months old.