The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has arrested two individuals from Cottondale, Florida, on multiple felony charges related to the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Mark Swearingen, 31, and Mackenzie O’Bryan, 20, were taken into custody on February 6 following an extensive investigation into the sharing of illicit files depicting the sexual abuse of children.
The arrests are part of FDLE’s ongoing statewide initiative to combat the distribution of CSAM and bring perpetrators to justice. The investigation began in November 2023 when FDLE agents received multiple cybertips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The tips alerted authorities to files containing explicit material involving children being uploaded to an online storage platform.
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Using advanced investigative techniques, FDLE agents identified Swearingen as the account user and traced the files to his residence in Cottondale. On executing a search warrant at the home, agents seized several electronic devices. A preliminary forensic analysis revealed numerous files depicting the sexual abuse of children, some as young as one year old.
During the investigation, agents also uncovered a disturbing video allegedly showing O’Bryan engaging in a sexual act with an animal. As a result, O’Bryan faces an additional charge of sexual contact with an animal, while Swearingen has been charged with possession of an image or video depicting sexual contact with an animal.
Swearingen and O’Bryan were arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on February 6. They face a total of 11 felony counts each for possession of CSAM, along with their respective additional charges. The case will be prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney for the 14th Judicial Circuit.
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The investigation was led by FDLE’s Panama City Field Office, with assistance from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations. Authorities have emphasized the importance of collaboration between agencies in tackling such heinous crimes.
FDLE urges parents and guardians to remain vigilant about their children’s online activities. For tips on how to keep children safe online, visit the FDLE’s Secure Florida website at https://www.secureflorida.org/SF/Family-Safety/BPParents.
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