Cybertip leads to the arrest of Navarre man: FDLE

NAVARRE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has arrested a Navarre man and accused him of the promotion and transmission of child sexual abuse material.

According to the FDLE, its agents arrested Alexander Brian Freehardt, 42, of Navarre, on six counts of electronic transmission of child sexual abuse material, one count of promoting a sexual performance of a child, and one count of unlawful use of a two-way communication device, all felony charges.

The FDLE said the case began in January when the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office said it received a cybertip about an online user reportedly sharing child sexual abuse material on a peer-to-peer network. Investigators said they determined that the user was sharing the material from outside of Okaloosa County and transferred the investigation to FDLE.

“Through investigative techniques, FDLE agents were able to identify Freehardt as the sender of the child sexual abuse material,” the FDLE said.

According to the FDLE, its agents obtained and executed a search warrant at Freehardt’s residence on February 7 with the assistance of the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Additional charges are possible pending further forensic review of seized devices, the FDLE said.

Freehardt was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail on Tuesday. The Office of the State Attorney, First Judicial Circuit, will prosecute the case.