Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Gerald Roy Morris, 71, was arrested yesterday for 18 charges related to child pornography.

On November 9, 2024, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a CyberTip about a child exploitation image uploaded to the Bing reverse image search tool. The image shows a nude male child of about 6-8 years old with an older teen girl, also nude, touching him in a sexual manner.

On February 7, Cox Communications responded to a subpoena from the Gainesville Police Department for the subscriber of the IP address that uploaded the image, and the detective learned that the account belonged to Morris, who lives outside the city limits; the case was transferred to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ASO).

ASO executed a search warrant at Morris’s property in Jonesville on June 11, and post Miranda, Morris reportedly said he had heard of Bing’s reverse image search tool but had not used it. The detective provided the date when the image was uploaded and asked Morris if he’d had any visitors on that date; Morris said he did not have visitors and that neighbors would not use his internet connection. He denied possessing any child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

On June 23, ASO detectives reported finding 50,510 CSAM files, including 384 videos, on a computer used by Morris; the files mostly showed prepubescent females, from infants to 10 years old. The files reportedly “contained every level of enhancement” in Florida statutes, including sexual activity being forced on very young children. The detective reported that Morris had been looking at those files the day before the search warrant was executed, including a video of sexual activity between an adult male and a nude toddler.

A pack of 19 “blank” discs found on Morris’s desk also reportedly contained CSAM — a total of 9,240 files, making a total of 59,750 CSAM files.

A warrant was issued by Judge James Colaw on July 24, and Morris surrendered at the Alachua County Jail on July 28.

Morris has been charged with one count of transmission of child pornography and 17 counts of possession of child pornography. Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $1.8 million, the amount set by Judge Colaw in the warrant. Morris’s attorney has filed a motion to reduce bail, arguing that Morris, a retired General Contractor with some medical issues, cannot afford the bail and, if released, will live at his home of 41 years in Jonesville and will appear at all hearings.

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.