19-YEAR-OLD FROM DEFUNIAK SPRINGS ARRESTED ON MORE THAN 50 COUNTS OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
WALTON COUNTY, Fla— A yearlong investigation by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Bureau Cyber Crimes Unit leads to the arrest of a DeFuniak Springs teenager on 60 counts of child pornography.
In 2023, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office received a Cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), related to possible child exploitation within Walton County.
An extensive investigation was launched by the Cyber Crimes Unit to locate the origin of the tip which included numerous subpoenas and search warrants eventually leading investigators to develop Donovan Anthony Clinch, 19, as a suspect.
On September 17th, a residential search warrant was conducted at 380 Lakeview Drive in DeFuniak Springs. Evidence was collected at the scene for digital forensics examination conducted at an off-site location. It was discovered during the investigation Clinch knowingly possessed Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) and bestiality content.
On October 09th, Clinch was arrested on 54 counts of possession of child pornography, five counts of possession of pornography involving animal sex activity, and one count of unlawful use of a two-way communications device.
“These charges are sickening,” said Captain Dustin Cosson of the Walton County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Bureau. “But just like an iceberg, you never know what’s below the surface. This investigation took countless hours conducting digital forensics and is just a small example of how following the evidence and thoroughness pays off.”
Clinch was given a $100,000 bond and is still incarcerated at the time of this release.