(Marion County, FL) On Friday, December 12, 2025, a jury found 45-year-old Michael Alton McMasters guilty of twenty felony counts of Possession of Child Pornography. Judge Willard Pope ordered McMasters into custody to await his sentencing hearing, which will take place after a presentence investigation is completed.
In January of 2024, law enforcement officials at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children indicating an online user had uploaded files containing apparent child pornography.
During their investigation, officials were able to determine that the defendant was the owner of the account. Detectives responded to McMasters’ residence off Southwest 30th Terrace, where they made contact with the defendant, who was residing in a camper trailer on the property.
In speaking with McMasters, detectives revealed the reason for their investigation. McMasters denied any knowledge of child sex abuse material being uploaded before refusing further questions by officials. McMasters was taken into custody, and multiple devices from within the home were seized as evidence.
An MCSO Digital Forensic Technician completed a forensic exam of the defendant’s devices and located the aforementioned files.
This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Samantha Wahba and Drew Brandies.
Published on 12/16/2025.