TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — A man is behind bars on several aggravated child pornography charges after police say he was caught with multiple child porn photos on his cell phone.
According to court documents, Tallahassee Police were flagged down by a woman at the Circle K on North Monroe Street on Nov. 1. The woman told police she believed her ex-boyfriend Ronald Padgett, 41, had child pornography on his cell phone.
The woman told police that she saw approximately 15 images on the phone that "concerned her," and stated that the pictures showed "young girls estimated to be under the age of 10," in "various stages of undress."
When she confronted Padgett about this, she said he told her he was going to seek counseling, according to documents.
During a check of Padgett's criminal history, police discovered that Padgett had been arrested for an unrelated felony warrant back in January. During that arrest, police say a small pair of women's underwear was discovered in Padgett's pocket that an officer described as "obviously a child's size."
On Nov. 5, police served a search warrant at the Hope Community Center, where Padgett was working as a cook.
When asked about the allegations, Padgett told police that the allegations were false and that his ex-girlfriend was trying to get back at him for his criminal past. While speaking with officers, Padgett pulled out his phone and told them they were free to search it.
He also stated that there was "no child pornography on his phone, only adult pornography."
Police say when investigators searched the phone, they found 11 photos that appeared to be child pornography and several pictures that would be considered "child erotica."
Based on the evidence, Padgett was arrested and transported to the Leon County Detention Facility over the weekend. He is being charged with 11 counts of aggravated possession of child pornography. Padgett was not charged for the "child erotica."
