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The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Crestview man on thirty counts of possession of child pornography and other charges following a detailed investigation.
In July 2021, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a cybertip involving the possession of child pornography. The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, Internet Crimes Against Children Unit investigated the criminal complaint and in December 2022, executed a search warrant at a Crestview residence on Field Avenue in coordination with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the Department of Homeland Security (HSI). There they discovered additional pieces of evidence.
The suspect was determined to be 29 year old Zachary Richard Heath Ward. He was found to be in possession of more than 700 files of child pornography and at least three files of bestiality.
A warrant was issued for Ward’s arrest and on April 27, 2023, Ward was taken into custody in Brevard County, Florida.
He is currently in the Okaloosa County Jail charged with 30 counts of Possession of Child Pornography, two counts of Transmission of Child Pornography, three counts of Bestiality, and the Use of a two-way communication device to facility a felony.
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