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Disney World, Legoland employees among 11 arrested in undercover child porn sting

Posted at 5:48 AM, Jun 05, 2018
and last updated 2018-06-05 10:58:55-04

Polk County, Florida detectives arrested 11 men during their latest undercover child pornography investigation. 

"Operation Guardians of Innocence II" focused on identifying and arresting those involved in the possession, promotion, and distribution of child pornography. 

A total of 660 felony charges were filed against the suspects and more charges are pending. 

A Walt Disney employee, Legoland employee and Boy Scout parent helper were among the 11 arrested. 

"As you know, this is just the beginning - once we serve search warrants and seize the devices that these suspects are using to download and distribute pornography, we will do a complete forensic analysis, and in all likelihood we will be adding on more charges related to the felony possession and distribution of images and videos of children being sexually battered. 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" said Sheriff Grady Judd.

The following suspects were arrested in the sting: 

  • 48-year-old Edward Zaborowski III, of Davenport | Bartender in Orlando, parent helper and driver for his son's Boy Scout Troop
    • 64 counts possession of child pornography - enhanced (F-2)
    • 1 count promotion of sexual performance by a child (F-2)
  • 64-year-old Richard Cousins, of Davenport | Registered sex offender, arrested in 1992 in Maine for sexual assault on two male victims under 13
    • 143 counts possession of child pornography - enhanced (F-2)
    • 3 counts promotion of sexual performance by a child (F-2) 
  • 51-year-old Bruce Nopper, of Auburndale
    • 12 counts possession of child pornography (F-3)
    • 1 count promotion of sexual performance by a child (F-2)
  • 30-year-old Rickie Vargas-Garcia, of Davenport | Lego builder for Merlin Entertainment, arrested in 2008 in Virginia for DUI
    • 10 counts possession of child pornography - enhanced (F-2)
  • 84-year-old Don Carrier, of Davenport
    • 200 counts possession of child pornography - enhanced (F-2)
  • 53-year-old Roger Catey, of Davenport | Walt Disney World project manager in costumes department
    • 24 counts possession of child pornography - enhanced (F-2)
    • 2 counts promotion of sexual performance by a child (F-2)
  • 35-year-old Mathew Sentz, of Lakeland | Registered sex offender arrested in 2000 for possession of child pornography when he was 17-years-old
    • 100 counts possession of child pornography - enhanced (F-2) 
  • 24-year-old Jarrod Whiting,  of Lakeland      
    • 14 counts possession of child pornography - enhanced (F-2)
  •  20-year-old Alejandro Baltazar II, of Mulberry | student at HCC
    • 55 counts possession of child pornography - enhanced (F-2)
  • 69-year-old Donald Marich, of Lake Alfred | Retired schoolteacher, lives alone, Disney annual pass holder that frequently attends the theme park alone
    • 16 counts possession of child pornography - enhanced (F-2)
    • 3 counts promotion of child pornography (F-2)
  • A 16-year-old boy, of Kissimmee
    • 12 counts possession of child pornography - enhanced (F-2)

Sheriff Grady Judd will provide more information on the arrests at a 1:30 p.m. press conference on Tuesday at the PCSO Sheriff's Operations Center.