NEWBERRY – A 40-year-old Newberry man is being held on a combined $580,000 bond after an Alachua County Sheriff’s Office investigation into alleged online child exploitation led to multiple felony charges.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the investigation began in early April when the agency’s Digital Crimes Unit, a member of the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, received a cyber tip alleging that a social media user had shared a video depicting the sexual abuse of a child.
The case was assigned to Detective J. Finch, who used investigative techniques to identify the account holder as Chintan Shah, 40, of Newberry, investigators said.
As the investigation progressed, detectives obtained and executed multiple search warrants.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, investigators developed probable cause to believe Shah possessed child sexual abuse material and had engaged in online conversations with minors through social media, including discussions involving the viewing of child sexual abuse material.
A judge signed a search warrant July 7 for Shah’s residence in the 12000 block of Southwest Second Place in Newberry.
On July 8, members of the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by the Gainesville Police Department, executed the warrant and made contact with Shah at the residence before taking him into custody.
The Sheriff’s Office initially announced charges of possession of child sexual abuse material, transmission of child sexual abuse material and use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.
Court records, however, show prosecutors have filed two separate felony cases against Shah.
In the first case, Shah is charged with one count each of possession of child sexual abuse material, transmission of child sexual abuse material and use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony. Bond in that case was set at $130,000.
In the second case, Shah is charged with three additional counts of possession of child sexual abuse material, one count of using a computer or electronic device to solicit a minor and two counts related to obtaining or providing information about a minor for unlawful sexual purposes. Bond in that case was set at $450,000.
Combined, the two cases carry a total bond of $580,000, according to court records.
The Sheriff’s Office said the investigation remains active and additional charges may be filed.
“To protect the integrity of the case, no further details are being released at this time,” the agency said.
The North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is part of a nationwide network of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies that investigates the online exploitation of children and works to identify offenders and protect victims.
Under Florida law, an arrest is an accusation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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