***UPDATE as of 3:45 p.m. on October 20, 2022***

Further review of the Hugill's digital files revealed an image of an adult female and dog engaged in sexual activity.

Hugill was charged with an additional felony charge of Sexual Activity Involving Animals.

***END OF UPDATE***

**Original News Release***

Pinellas County Sheriff's Office

Investigative Operations Bureau

-Crimes Against Children (CAC) Unit
-Digital Forensics Unit

Michael Bennett Hugill (Suspect- Arrested)
DOB: 01/06/1953
Address: 212 Coe Road, Belleair
Charges: 10 Counts of Possession of Child Pornography

PINELLAS COUNTY- Detectives assigned to the Crimes Against Children (CAC) Unit have arrested a Belleair man for multiple counts of possession of child pornography.

Detectives began their investigation after receiving information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that child pornography was being uploaded on the internet. Through various investigative techniques, detectives were able to identify the suspect as 69-year-old Michael Hugill.

Detectives obtained a search warrant for Hugill’s internet account and several images of child pornography were located. A search warrant was also obtained on Hugill’s residence located at 212 Coe Road in Belleair. Several electronic devices were collected from Hugill’s residence and several additional child pornography images were located on at least one device. When Hugill was interviewed by detectives, he admitted to owning the internet account and saving the images to his computer.

On October 20, 2022, detectives arrested Hugill and charged him with ten counts of Possession of Child Pornography.

Hugill was transported to the Pinellas County Jail.

The investigation continues.