MELBOURNE, Fla. – A Melbourne man was arrested Thursday and charged with 76 counts of sexual crimes, including molestation of a minor between the age of 12 and 16, records show.
According to News 6 partner Florida Today, Joseph Caruso, 33, of Melbourne was arrested by Melbourne Police Department officials Thursday after someone discovered pornographic images and videos on his cell phone in August, records show.
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That person initially contacted police Aug. 6, when explicit photos of a teen girl were discovered on Caruso’s phone, records show. The person knew the teenager, who knew the Caruso family.
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When interviewed by police, the teen said the incidents with Caruso began in 2018. She said Caruso had sex with her at least 20 times and had recorded or photographed it at least 15 times, records state. She also told police she was forced to watch at least 50 pornographic films with Caruso. She was under the age of 16 at the time.
As police investigated, they discovered more photos and videos, including some of a different girl under age 18, records show.
Police collected video and photo evidence remotely on Aug. 13, records show. A total of 117 sexually explicit photos and videos were collected, some dated Oct. 30, 2019. Others did not have a date. Investigators said they believe more images exist and will be discovered upon further investigation, records show.
Police interviewed Caruso on the morning of Aug. 18 at his job, records show. He agreed to speak with them and confirmed what the teen girl had told police regarding the number of times they had sex and her age. He also confirmed owning the account with the sexually explicit photos and videos. He told police he had deleted them.
Police compared his interview with the photos and other evidence they had gathered and issued an arrest warrant Aug. 19. He was arrested Thursday.
Caruso faces 76 charges, with 12 counts of lewd or lascivious battery to a person 12 to 16 years of age; 12 counts of lewd or lascivious molestation to a person 12 to 16 by an offender 18 or over; 12 counts of lewd or lascivious conduct by an offender 18 or older; 10 counts of possession of material depicting sexual conduct by a child; 10 counts of possession with intent to promote sexual performance by a child; 10 counts of promoting sexual performance by a child; eight counts of unlawful sexual activity with certain minors; one count of computer solicitation of a minor by misrepresenting age; and one count of distributing obscene material to a minor.
Caruso’s bond has been set at $3,115,000. His first appearance in court will be Oct. 14.
Assistant Public Defender Blaise Trettis is assigned to the case and couldn’t be reached Friday.