Port Charlotte Man Arrested on Charges of Child Pornography – Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office
Francesco Abbruzzino, The Uncensored Report, LLC
CCSO
A Port Charlotte man is in custody on charges of child pornography after detectives received numerous cyber-tips and discovered the material on his cell phone.
Between November 2023 through July 2024, Charlotte County Detective Don Woelke, who is assigned to the FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, was made aware of potential illicit material on a cell phone through cyber-tips. These tips led to the investigation of Richard Edward Mathis (6/20/1944).
When contact was made with Richard, he admitted to looking at and saving child pornography images and videos. The cellphone that allegedly contained the inappropriate material was seized and a search warrant was executed.
During forensic examination, numerous child pornography files were located on that device, along with disturbing conversations he was having with other individuals. Richard talked freely in these chats where he states he has sexually abused children between the ages of 4 and 9 years old.
On 7/30/2024, Richard was located at his residence where he was taken into custody for the possession of child pornography, compiling child pornography, and promoting/sending child pornography.
“Thank you to my team and the Task Force for finding this individual and putting an end to this disgusting behavior. Few things in this world are as reprehensible as abusing innocent children, and there is certainly no tolerance for it in Charlotte County. I think this arrest illustrates how important those tips are, and I thank the people who provided them.”
– Sheriff Bill Prummell