Cape Canaveral, Fl. – A Volusia County man was arrested this week after an investigation that began when he returned to port aboard the Carnival Mardi Gras cruise ship and was stopped by U.S. Customs and Border Protection regarding possible illegal material on his cellphone, according to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said that when federal agents initially reviewed the phone, they did not locate child sexual abuse material. However, investigators reported locating downloaded videos depicting adults engaged in sexual acts with animals.
The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit responded to the port and assumed the investigation.
During an interview, the suspect — identified as Anthony Ridings — allegedly told investigators he downloaded the videos and claimed he did not know the material was illegal. He also reportedly said he possessed the videos for what he described as “shock value,” according to the sheriff’s office.
Ridings was not immediately arrested while detectives obtained a forensic examination of the cellphone and continued the investigation.
Following that review, ICAC Agent Josh Strait submitted an arrest warrant that was signed by Judge Laura Moody. Ridings was later taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Task Force in Daytona Beach.
He is charged with 15 counts of Possession of Material Depicting Sexual Activities Involving Animals, the sheriff’s office said. His bond was set at $300,000.
Ridings is awaiting transport from Volusia to the Brevard County Jail and is awaiting court proceedings.
The sheriff’s office also stated that the investigation remains ongoing.
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