Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jesus Ricardo Ernst, 69, was arrested on June 16 and charged with showing obscene material to a young child.

The case arose from a Department of Children and Families (DCF) investigation in early April; the child had reportedly punched and scratched herself in an attempt to avoid going to Ernst’s house. She told an adult that she slept on the couch when she was at Ernst’s house because her room there was a “full mess.” The adult learned that the child stayed at Ernst’s house after school when she was in her father’s custody.

The child reportedly said that Ernst would come sit with her on the couch and place his phone or iPad in front of her while watching “videos of people with no clothing on.” She said she knew what this content was called but did not want to say the word, so she spelled it: “P-O-R-N.” She said Ernst had never touched her inappropriately. She said she had asked him to stop watching the videos in front of her, but he continued to watch them, and when she brought up the incidents to other family members, they told her to “suck it up” and “get over it.”

The investigating deputy reportedly learned that DCF had opened an investigation into similar allegations in November 2023 but had closed it. The child reportedly said that Ernst had stopped watching the videos briefly during the investigation, but he started again after the investigation was closed.

Post Miranda, Ernst reportedly told the deputy that he has a pornography addiction and “watches it frequently”; he said the child had “caught” him watching the videos at least seven times. The deputy reported that a review of Ernst’s devices, with Ernst’s consent, showed that he viewed pornography “almost daily.”

Ernst has been charged with showing obscene material to a minor. He has no local criminal history and was released on his own recognizance with requirements to have no contact with minors and no internet access.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.