Lakeland Man Accused Of Having Child Pornography: Deputies

POLK COUNTY, FL — A tip from the National Center for Missing and Endangered Children led deputies to a 71-year-old Lakeland man who faced accusations Tuesday of having child pornography at his house, a Polk County Sheriff's Office News release said.

Donald Eugene McClendon, Jr., was charged by the Polk County Sheriff's Office with child pornography, according to deputies.

McClendon remained in the Volusia County Jail without bond, police said.

He will be transferred to the Polk County Jail, police said.

During the investigation, detectives discovered McClendon had been pretending to be a 16-year-old girl when he had online sexual conversations with a boy, deputies said.

Authorities found flash drives that contained child pornography images that showed children as young as 5 years old being sexually battered, deputies said.

Deputies said that McClendon was staying with a relative in New Smyrna Beach when they found the devices inside his Lakeland home.

According to detectives, he could face additional charges if additional images are found on the devices.