Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said a high school geometry teacher and theme park workers are among the 16 males arrested in Operation Cyber Child III, an undercover operation.

Three males, including a 17-year-old juvenile, who we are not naming in accordance with our Crime Guidelines, were arrested for possession of child pornography during the operation’s first phase.

Among those arrested included 28-year-old Matthew Tillesen, a geometry teacher at Haines City High School.

"Prior to Haines City, he was assigned to Westwood Middle School," Judd said at a news conference Tuesday. "Prior to that, he was an associate (substitute) in Pinellas County.

"We think there may be victims as far away as Pinellas County."

During a search warrant at Tillesen’s Winter Haven home, deputies said the teacher admitted to possessing and distributing child pornography. Fifty images of child porn were found on his computer, with the youngest victim being one to two years old.

“He was creating a roll playing game to be used online by children, a sexual role playing game. He said that's the reason he was looking at child pornography,” Judd said.

Tillesen was arrested and charged with 50 counts.

Judd also said Tillesen had young ladies underwear in his home. Some high school seniors said he was always strange.

“I saw him in the hallways, always thought he was different. Walked around hunched in the hallways all creepy actin’,” said Tyler Bancura, Haines City High.

“I was not surprised at all. If I could have picked one person at the school it would have been him,” said Drew Kerr, Haines City High. “He was just a really weird guy.”

Tillesen’s teaching record is clean. He received no complaints and no disciplinary action until his arrest, when he received a termination letter.

“Matthew is a very dangerous person,” Judd said. “We don't think we have gotten to the bottom of that well yet, and we're still working the forensics on his computer.”

Two other search warrants were executed on Lakeland homes.

In the first, a 17-year-old admitted to viewing child porn, with victims between one or two years old to 10 years of age. He was charged with seven counts.

Thirty-four-year-old John King was arrested for 22 counts at the second home. King admitted to viewing child pornography, with the youngest victim being approximately six years old. Deputies said King has a significant criminal history with 19 previous charges.

The second phase resulted in 13 arrests for adults traveling to engage in sexual activity with underage boys and girls.

The defendants arrested in the operation -- and their charges -- are as follows:

  • Awais Iftikhar, 25, of Orlando – Walgreens store clerk (charges: use of two-way communication device to commit felony; using a computer to seduce, solicit or lure a minor; traveling to meet after using a computer to lure child; lewd and lascivious conduct by person over 18 years of age)
  • Anthony Keo, 18, of Garland, Texas – Student (charges: transmit material harmful to minors; using a computer to seduce, solicit or lure a minor; traveling to meet after using a computer to lure child; lewd and lascivious conduct by person over 18 years of age)
  • Jose Luis Torres, 39, of Davenport – Unemployed (charges: use of two-way communication device to commit felony; using a computer to seduce, solicit or lure a minor; traveling to meet after use of computer to lure child; lewd and lascivious conduct by person over 18 years of age)
  • Kevin Sisco, 23, of Winter Park – Full Sail University student – (charges: misrepresenting age while using a computer to solicit or lure a minor; two counts of using a computer to seduce, solicit or lure a child; traveling to meet after using computer to lure a child; lewd and lascivious conduct by person over 18 years of age; transmitting material harmful to minors).
  • Jonathan Cruz, 18, of Winter Haven – Racetrac store clerk (charges: use of two-way communication device to commit felony; using a computer to seduce, solicit or lure a minor; traveling to meet after using computer to lure child; lewd and lascivious conduct by person over 18 years of age)
  • Matthew “Cody” Myers, 23, of Davenport – Universal Studios (charges: using a computer to seduce, solicit or lure a minor; traveling to meet after use of computer to lure child; lewd and lascivious conduct by person over 18 years of age; unlawful use of two-way communication device.) -- Myers told deputies he previously was employed by SeaWorld and Disney.
  • Michael Tyler Shaw, 21, of Celebration – College student (charges: use of two-way communication device to commit felony; using a computer to solicit parental/guardian consent; travelling to meet after using a computer to lure child; traveling to meet after use of computer to solicit guardian; lewd battery) -- Admitted to looking up child pornography only, but didn’t find any.
  • Luis Enrique Alvarez, 33, of Lakeland – Unemployed (charges: use of two-way communication device to commit felony; using a computer to seduce, solicit or lure a minor; traveling to meet after using computer to lure child; exhibition offense; transmitting material harmful to minors; driving on an expired driver’s license).
  • Zachary Spencer, 26, of Clermont – Ticket supervisor at Disney’s Magic Kingdom theme park (charges: use of two-way communication device to commit felony; using a computer to seduce, solicit or lure a minor; traveling to meet after using computer to lure child; exhibition offense, transmitting material harmful to minors).
  • Allen Treaster, 40, of Kissimmee – Concierge at Disney’s Animal Kingdom – (charges: use of two-way communication device to commit felony; using a computer to seduce, solicit or lure a minor; traveling to meet after using computer to lure child; lewd and lascivious conduct by person over 18 years of age, transmitting material harmful to minors).
  • Jacob Bickel, 20, of Naples – University of South Florida student (charges: use of two-way communication device to commit felony; using a computer to seduce, solicit or lure a minor; traveling to meet after using computer to lure child; lewd and lascivious conduct by person over 18 years of age, transmitting material harmful to minors).
  • Stephen Carlson, 23, of Palm Harbor – Lee Roy Selmon’s Restaurant (charges: use of two-way communication device to commit felony; destroying or tampering with evidence; using a computer to seduce, solicit or lure a minor; traveling to meet after using computer to lure child; lewd and lascivious conduct by person over 18 years of age, transmitting material harmful to minors).
  • Timothy Lucas, 20, of Davenport – Unemployed (charges: use of two-way communication device to commit felony; using a computer to seduce, solicit or lure a minor; traveling to meet after using computer to lure child; lewd and lascivious conduct by person over 18 years of age; transmitting material harmful to minors; possessing, promoting, presenting or depicting child sex) -- Lucas said he was fired from Disney two weeks ago for missing work for medical reasons.

The operation concluded Monday, June 30.

The operation was based in Polk County, but deputies received help from  officers in the following agencies: St. Petersburg Police Department, Orlando Police Department, North Port Police Department, Florida Department of Law Enforcement - Tampa Bay Regional Operations Center, Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, Lake County Sheriff's Office, Osceola County Sheriff's Office, Seminole County Sheriff's Office, Orange County Sheriff's Office, Hardee County Sheriff's Office, Citrus County Sheriff's Office, and Air Force - Office of Special Investigations.