On February 13, 2020, Polk County detectives obtained a warrant for and arrested 27-year-old Joshua Johnson of Davenport charging him with 200 counts possession of child pornography. The charges are enhanced because the images/videos met the following criteria:
(a) The offender possesses 10 or more images of any form of child pornography regardless of content; and
(b) The content of at least one image contains one or more of the following:
1. A child who is younger than the age of 5
2. Sadomasochistic abuse involving a child
3. Sexual Battery involving a child
4. Sexual bestiality involving a child
5. Any movie involving a child, regardless of length and regardless of whether the movie contains sound.
Upon Johnson’s arrest, he told deputies he’s been viewing child pornography from a young age, ever since he received his first computer, and that he is “addicted” to it. The images found on his electronic devices depicted children between the ages of 2-7 years old being sexually abused.
Sheriff Grady Judd said, “Those who upload and share child pornography are victimizing children over and over again. It is especially concerning when we locate a suspect with this many images, most of which depict very small children being sexually abused. At this time we don’t believe Johnson physically abused a child, but the investigation into that is ongoing.”
Johnson’s criminal history includes 4 previous felonies, including armed robbery and VOP in Jacksonville. He was in state prison from March 2016 until August 2017. He is married and has a child. He will have a first appearance hearing on February 14, 2020.
