Soldier's Child Porn Arrest ‘Disturbing,’ Polk Sheriff Says

LAKELAND, FL — A 31-year-old former Lakeland resident faces 10 counts of child pornography following an investigation into his alleged criminal activities. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of Army Specialist Nathan Scott Gray on Thursday.

Gray, who is stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, was booked into the Cumberland County Jail in Fayetteville on the Polk County warrant June 28. Gray is assigned to the 8th Military Information Support Group as a unit supply specialist, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in announcing the arrest.

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The case against Gray began to unfold in February 2017 when the sheriff’s office began an investigation about the possible downloading of child pornography from a home on Lakeland’s Fairlane Drive, Judd said. Detectives learned Gray was visiting family at the home.

Polk detectives worked with the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division to obtain and serve a search warrant, Judd said. Gray’s electronic devices were ultimately seized during the Feb. 8 warrant search.

Following the search, detectives began a forensic analysis of Gray’s electronic devices and found 10 images depicting children as young as 3 “being sexually battered by adults,” an email from Judd’s office said. Gray is accused of downloading the images and then making the files available to others.

“This is disturbing,” Judd said in announcing Gray’s arrest. “A man who is active in the military in a position of public trust has a secret life behind a computer.”

Gray is expected to be extradited to Polk County to face charges. A date for his transfer has not been established.

As for others who share child pornography over the internet, Judd said his agency has a warning for them: “The possession and sharing of child pornography victimizes children and families. We will not tolerate it in Polk County.”

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Booking photo courtesy of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office