Convicted Escambia Sex Offender Arrested On New Federal Child Porn Charges

June 13, 2020

A registered sex offender from Escambia County was arrested Friday on new federal charges related to the distribution, receipt, and possession of child pornography.

Steven J. McLendon, 36, is a registered sex offender in the state of Florida stemming from prior convictions for lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor and child pornography in 2007. Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today after McLendon made his initial appearance in federal court in Pensacola.

The allegations against McLendon stem from a months long investigation by the FloridaDepartment of Law Enforcement in Pensacola. The charges allege that from February through June, McLendon was utilizing peer to peer software to distribute and receive child pornography in Pensacola. Upon the execution of a search warrant at his residence in Pensacola this week, law enforcement is alleged to have seized multiple pieces of digital evidence containing child pornography. This includes a device McLendon is alleged to have attempted to hide in his refrigerator.

McLendon, because of his prior convictions, faces the following enhanced penalties if convicted:

  • Distribution of Child Pornography – A mandatory minimum of 15 years up to a maximum of 40 years in prison;
  • Receipt of Child Pornography – A mandatory minimum of 15 years up to a maximum of 40 years in prison;
  • Possession of Child Pornography – A mandatory minimum of 10 years up to a maximum of 20 years in prison; and
  • Forfeiture of his all the electronics used to commit the offenses.

“Protecting the children of our community against those who would do them harm is a difficult and serious task. My office is grateful to the men and women of law enforcement who work tirelessly to rescue children from online sexual exploitation,” Keefe said.

“FDLE’s Cyber Squad began this investigation in March and found child pornography involving young children being victimized,” said FDLE Special Agent in Charge Jack Massey. “McLendon is already on Florida’s Sex Offender Registry and I appreciate the hard work and dedication of our cyber squad agents.”

The case was investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg.

Comments

9 Responses to “Convicted Escambia Sex Offender Arrested On New Federal Child Porn Charges”

  1. mel on June 15th, 2020 6:53 pm

    castrate him!!

  2. dola hart on June 14th, 2020 9:06 am

    Someone needs to remove that smile. Hopefully where he is going they will. And maybe he will never see day light ever again

  3. Mary on June 13th, 2020 7:08 pm

    You have nothing positive to smile about!

  4. Stormi on June 13th, 2020 3:56 pm

    @Matchbox I couldn’t agree more. Pedos have proven time after time that they WILL reoffend. Same for violent sexual criminals. If we gave these animals the time they deserved we could spare so many children this nightmare. Naomi Jones is a prime example from right here in our own area. If that “man” Howard had gotten a sentence worthy of his original sexual crimes, he never would have been free to take that little girl’s life.

  5. Jack Sherburg on June 13th, 2020 3:21 pm

    Stiff sentences yes, but what about the one that sells your child the cocaine. They get a slap on the wrist. I can get drunk and kill your child, I will only do a few years.

  6. Matchbox on June 13th, 2020 1:51 pm

    Why aren’t these charges ever life in prison? They should never be able to do this again.. I have read alot lately of convicted sex on probation going back to prison so why are they out in the first place? May God have mercy on your soul and I pray for these poor children.

  7. Susan on June 13th, 2020 12:57 pm

    Thank you Cyber Squad!! You are silent super heroes for our children! I’m grateful for your dedication.

  8. Geneva Parish on June 13th, 2020 12:56 pm

    People like this should have to pay the highest penalty of the law there is. These children cannot defend these awful creatures they are not men or women they are not human. God didn’t put children on this earth to be exploited like this. They think they can get away with it and some do here on earth but they have to meet there maker in a soon to be a time of reckoning that will be when they really pay the price.

  9. Hang em high on June 13th, 2020 10:47 am

    I have 4 children and all I can say is that if scum like that ever messed with my children law enforcement would be the least of his worries he would welcome them with open arms versus me finding him

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News