Fort Lauderdale, FL (January 17, 2019) – On Thursday, the Broward Sheriff's Office arrested a Fort Lauderdale employee at the Calvary Christian Academy after he was found in possession of child pornography. Now, he faces six counts of possession of child pornography and is being held at this time without bond.
Broward Sheriff's Office says that 35-year-old Jesus Mendez Jr. worked at the academy for two years as an IT tech. He also volunteered as a coordinator for five years prior to taking the IT tech position with the Calvary's Youth and Children's Ministry.
He was arrested after a search of his home yielded numerous inappropriate photos of very young children that he had downloaded on his personal computer. In an interview with officers, he confessed to downloading the child pornography.
Investigators said that, due to the nature of his job, Mendez had access to children in the past. However, he has denied having any inappropriate physical contact with them. Mendez was fired from his job following his arrest.
Detectives are continuing to investigate to make sure that none of the children that he came into contact with were victimized by Mendez when he spent time working around them. The church parishioners were shocked and saddened to learn about the arrest. Broward Sheriff's Office is urging the community to come forward with any information that they might have pertaining to Mendez's employment and inappropriate contact with minors.
Mendez has worked as an IT technician at a school and megachurch in the area.
Fort Lauderdale Child Pornography Possession Laws
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