CLEARWATER, Fla. – Clearwater Police detectives have charged a Clearwater man with 20 counts of possession of child pornography.
Charles Daniel Paul (DOB 9-12-88) of 1525 Carroll St. in Clearwater was charged and booked in to the Pinellas County Jail late this afternoon. At the time of his arrest, he was employed by the Pinellas County School District at Belleair Elementary as the food services manager. He has resigned from his job with the school district.
Paul is accused of possessing and transmitting more than 18,000 images of child pornography, many of which showed children being raped and abused in a sexual manner. A search warrant was served on his residence Thursday, and he was arrested today. The case originated with a tip from Largo Police, who worked together with Clearwater Police throughout the investigation.
Detectives do not believe any of the images are children from the elementary school or from the local area.
The investigation continues, and additional charges may be forthcoming. Any information on Paul’s employment with the school district will have to come from Pinellas County Schools.
Anyone with information on the case should call Clearwater Police at 727-562-4242.