GAINESVILLE, FL – The Gainesville Police Department (GPD) Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Division, with assistance from GPD SWAT, served a search warrant at 2006 NW 55th Ave, Apt F6, on Thursday, July 17, following a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
The NCMEC CyberTip indicated that a user of Snapchat had uploaded and shared an image of child sexual abuse material. Detective Montague’s investigation identified Quentin Emslie, a 19-year-old white male residing at the listed address, as the likely user.
After being read his Miranda rights, Emslie admitted to owning the Snapchat account. He claimed the image reported to NCMEC, as well as a video of child sexual abuse material he distributed, were sent to him by other Snapchat users. However, authorities state there is no evidence to support that these images or videos were sent to Emslie’s account by another user.
Further examination of the Snapchat account Emslie admitted ownership to revealed numerous chats where Emslie was communicating with apparent minors and subsequently sending them lewd images of himself.
All of Emslie’s electronic devices were seized, and a complete forensic analysis is pending. Emslie was arrested and charged with two counts of Distribution of Child Pornography, two counts of Possession of Child Pornography, and nine counts of Transmission of Harmful Material to Minors.
The Gainesville Police Department is urging parents to be aware of the dangers children face from solicitation and exploitation through social networking and messaging apps. They encourage age-appropriate conversations with children about internet safety and vigilance regarding the social networking platforms their children access.
For questions about this incident, contact GPD Detective Donna Montague at 352-393-7730 or montagueda@cityofgainesville.org.
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