Detectives: Dunedin Man Downloaded, Shared Child Porn

A Dunedin man has been arrested and charged with possessing and distributing child pornography after detectives say he confessed to downloading and sharing it online.

Lawrence M. Lemieux, 48, was arrested Tuesday morning at his home at 801 Main St., Lot 36, in Dunedin, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

The sheriff's Crimes Against Children Unit identified Lemieux as a potential suspect who was sharing child porn videos on the Internet during an investigation that began in December, according to a media release.

Detectives obtained a search warrant for Lemieux's home. He was interviewed Tuesday and admitted to downloading the pornography and sharing the files online, according to authorities.

"The computer was found to contain additional videos of prepubescent males engaging in sexual activity," the release states.

Lemieux was arrested and taken to Pinellas County Jail, where he was booked on 10 counts of sexual performance by a child (possession of child pornography) and one count of promoting the sexual performance by a child (distribution of child pornography).

He is being held on $25,000 bond and is awaiting trial, according to online sheriff's records.

The investigation is ongoing.

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