Pinellas Sheriff's Detectives And ICE Special Agents Serve Search Warrant On Seminole Man Which Leads To Arrest For Sexual Battery On A Child Between 12-18 Years-Of-Age
Release Number: 09-271
Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
Investigative Operations Bureau
Crimes Against Children Unit
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Office of Investigations in Tampa
Florida Office of the Attorney General
Child Predator Cyber Crimes Unit
Arrested: Michael Joseph Charniak
W/M DOB: 03/13/1964
7909 86th Way N.
Seminole, Fl.
Arrested for: One count of sexual battery on a child between 12–18 years-of-age
What: Detectives assigned to the Crimes Against Children Unit have arrested a Seminole man, Michael Charniak, 47, and charged him with one count of sexual battery on a child between 12-18 years-of-age.
To protect the child’s identity no further information is releasable per F.S. 119.071 (2) (g) 3. b.
Where: The suspect was arrested at his residence 7909 86th Way N., Seminole, Fl.
When: The suspect was arrested Wednesday, October 28, 2009.
How/Why: Detectives assigned to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Crimes Against Children Unit, were called to assist ICE special agents in Tampa and the Florida Office of the Attorney General, with a federal search warrant being served at 7909 86th Way N., Seminole. The location is the residence of Michael Charniak, who was the subject of an ICE investigation involving online enticement of a minor and child pornography receipt and distribution. ICE special agents seized computers from the defendant’s residence pursuant to a federal search warrant and are pending a forensic analysis to determine if Michael Charniak is in violation of federal law.
The investigation started as a tip to ICE’s Office of Investigations in Tampa that Charniak was making statements online that he was sexually abusing children. ICE special agents were able to develop probable cause for a federal search warrant which was served at 7:00 am yesterday at Charniak’s residence. During the service of the search warrant Pinellas Detectives were able to identify a child who was a possible victim. Detectives were able locate and interview the child this same day at another location. The child confirmed the sexual abuse.
Armed with the child’s statements Pinellas detectives interviewed Charniak, and he admitted he had sexually battered the child. He was placed in custody and charged with one count of sexual battery on a child between 12-18 years-of-age. He is currently in the Pinellas County Jail.
Charniak told detectives he is a coach for the Osceola Youth Soccer Association Club and Recreational Soccer. However, he did not get access to the victim through coaching soccer. Pinellas detectives are interested to hear from anyone who may have more information about Charniak. Anyone with information is directed to contact Detective Kurt Romanosky, Crimes Against Children Unit, at 727-582-6418.
ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-347-2423. This hotline is staffed around the clock by investigators.
Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.
All agencies involved are members of the Central Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
The investigation continues.
To view the suspect’s booking record and photograph click the following link or copy and paste the link into a browser address bar: http://www.pcsoweb.com/InmateBooking/SubjectResults.aspx?id=1378203
|