In a shocking turn of events, a septuagenarian Florida resident, known locally as "Santa," was apprehended by federal agents on charges of child pornography.
The arrest was made during a morning raid on his residence in Central Florida, as reported by WESH 2 News.
James Cox, 79, was taken into custody following a tip-off that child pornography was allegedly being disseminated from his home. The operation, which involved approximately 30 agents from Homeland Security and other agencies, took place around 10 a.m. on Tuesday.
In a tragic twist, Cox's son and alleged accomplice, Henry Cox, was discovered dead during the raid. The cause of death was determined to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to a statement from the Osceola County Medical Examiners Office, as reported by WKMG.
Upon searching the residence in January, police detectives reportedly uncovered multiple hard drives containing explicit images and videos of children, some of whom are believed to be neighbors of the Coxes. The content depicted the children in various compromising situations, including sexual abuse and exploitation.
Prosecutors have alleged that the younger Cox was responsible for producing some of the explicit material, while the elder Cox was in charge of uploading it. Despite denying his involvement, evidence of the younger Cox's participation was reportedly found in some of the videos, which captured his face and voice.
The shocking revelations have sent ripples through the local community. One neighbor, speaking to WKMG, expressed disbelief, saying, "I keep waiting to hear, No, its not true. Ive talked to Jim and Henry for years. They fished in my backyard; they played with the kids in the neighborhood."
Another neighbor, a parent to four girls, voiced her concerns to WESH 2 News, stating, "You just dont think its going to be so close to your house... Its a little unsettling. I think it confirms that we cant be restful and let our kids play outside. Its always play in the backyard now. Its not like it used to be."
James Cox is currently being held at the Seminole County jail, as per reports.
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