SILVER SPRINGS — Following an undercover Internet investigation, Marion County sheriff's deputies say they have discovered a former Bay County man's huge collection of child pornography.
Now investigators hope any possible victims of the suspect will come forward.
Robert Earl Toole, 50, of 3433 NE 56th Ave. in Silver Springs, was jailed Tuesday on 20 counts of possession of child pornography, according to an arrest affidavit by Sgt. Michael Dodd. Those charges relate to just 20 videos among 1 terabyte — 1,000 gigabytes — of child porn and child erotica that investigators reported finding on hard drives found at his home.
When interviewed in a patrol car, Toole admitted possessing child porn that he collected through peer-to-peer sharing programs, according to the affidavit. He said he had been collecting it for years and offered to show the detective his stash.
It was on two hard drives in his bedroom, the affidavit states. Dodd said some of the images and videos depicting sexual abuse and voyeurism appeared to be homemade and Toole admitted making them.
In addition to the child porn charges, Toole was arrested on one count of possession of marijuana over 20 grams and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
He is being held in the Marion County Jail in lieu of $406,000 bond.
The Sheriff's Office is asking anyone with information about Toole — or with information about possible victims — to call Dodd at 369-3535 or Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP.