Cameron Dean Bates of Port St. Lucie, Florida was arrested in Friday after investigators alleged that he had child pornography stored on his home computer, according to news reports. Bates, 46, was booked into St. Lucie County Jail on ten charges each of compiling child pornography and possession of child pornography. He reportedly remains incarcerated in lieu of paying $75,000 bail bond. It is not known whether he has hired a private criminal defense attorney.
Bates reportedly served as a St. Lucie County Sheriff's deputy for nearly 20 years, starting in 1998. He has been retired from his position with the department since 2006, from which he resigned voluntarily. There is no indication that he was ever in trouble with the police department during his time there.
According to news reports, Bates was apprehended after an Internet investigation involving peer-to-peer sharing software. It is not clear whether the investigation happened upon Bates' alleged sharing by chance or whether they launched an investigation as a result of a tip. In any case, detectives allegedly discovered that Bates had illegally downloaded child pornography videos and images.
After executing a search warrant at Bates' place of residence in the 5700 block of Northwest Belwood Circle, police officers allegedly found multiple images and videos depicting child pornography on Bates' personal laptop computer. The laptop was reportedly located in a Dodge Neon belonging to Bates, which was parked in his driveway. Bates evidently told detectives that he had mistakenly downloaded the illicit content while downloading music on a peer-to-peer site and said that the computer was used for work. Despite this explanation, he was arrested.
Police have reportedly confiscated the computer and are in the process of performing a forensic exam on it. There is no indication that Bates was ever in contact with any of the children featured in the pornography or that he ever abused children in any way. It is also important to remember that Bates is innocent until proven guilty.
Bates was not the only South Florida resident to run into trouble with the law recently. On Thursday, 25-year-old David Oscar Del Cueto was arrested after he alleged hit his brother with a golf club during an argument. Del Cueto was booked into Palm Beach County Jail on charges of aggravated battery. He reportedly remains incarcerated in lieu of paying bail bond. It is not clear whether he has retained an attorney.
Sources indicate that Del Cueto was arrested in the 4500 block of South Military Trail in Lake Worth. Del Cueto's brother, a 23-year-old who was not named in the police report, alleged that he had come home late at night and found Del Cueto threatening his family. The brother alleged that when he told Del Cueto to calm down, Del Cueto, drunk, had attacked him with a golf club.
The victim suffered a bleeding wound to his left elbow that required medical treatment. Meanwhile, Del Cueto was apprehended a few blocks away from his home, where he was found on foot. It is not clear whether the intoxication claims were substantiated at that time.
