Okeechobee Man Arrested on 15 Counts of Child Sexual Abuse Material Possession

State authorities announced the arrest as part of a broader initiative to intercept criminals targeting children online.

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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William Leroy Johnson Jr., a 56-year-old Okeechobee resident, was arrested this week on 15 felony counts of possession of child sexual abuse material. The arrest was part of a statewide initiative by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to crack down on the online distribution of illicit files involving the exploitation of children.

Why it matters

The arrest highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat the disturbing trend of child sexual abuse material being shared online. As technology continues to evolve, authorities are working to stay ahead of criminals who seek to exploit vulnerable minors through digital platforms.

The details

The investigation was triggered on January 20 after FDLE agents received a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about a 'visual search' service that utilized images depicting child sexual abuse. The IP address was traced to a location in Glades County, leading investigators to identify Johnson as the user associated with that address. A search warrant executed at Johnson's home on February 4 uncovered hundreds of files containing child sexual abuse material and child erotica on his computer.

  • On January 20, FDLE agents received a cybertip about the online sharing of child sexual abuse material.
  • On February 4, state agents executed a search warrant at Johnson's home in Okeechobee.
  • On February 14, Johnson was taken into custody by FDLE agents and the Glades County Sheriff's Office.

The players

William Leroy Johnson Jr.

A 56-year-old Okeechobee resident who was arrested on 15 felony counts of possession of child sexual abuse material.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE)

The state law enforcement agency that led the investigation and made the arrest as part of a broader initiative to combat the online exploitation of children.

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

The nonprofit organization that provided the cybertip to FDLE that triggered the investigation into Johnson.

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What’s next

The Attorney General's Office of Statewide Prosecution will handle the case, and FDLE officials noted that the investigation is ongoing.

The takeaway

This case underscores the critical importance of vigilant law enforcement efforts and public-private partnerships to identify and apprehend individuals engaged in the exploitation of minors through digital platforms. As technology continues to evolve, authorities must remain proactive in their approach to safeguarding vulnerable children from these abhorrent crimes.