WALTON COUNTY, Fla. — A father and son from Laurel Hill have been arrested following an investigation into multiple cyber tips related to the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material, according to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO).
Niceville.com Community Partner
The WCSO said that investigators with its Cyber Crimes Unit executed a search warrant early Wednesday morning, October 15, at a residence on Peach Tree Street, where 24-year-old Davvid Bailey was taken into custody.
According to the sheriff’s office, the case began in January 2025 after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) forwarded three separate CyberTipline reports to the WCSO. The reports identified social media accounts suspected of soliciting minors and possessing explicit material.
Investigators reportedly traced the online activity to Mr Bailey’s residence through subpoenas issued to various internet service providers. During the execution of the search warrant, Mr Bailey was present and is said to have provided information about his electronic devices. Multiple electronic items were seized as part of the investigation, according to the WCSO.
Niceville.com Community Partner
A forensic examination of one of the devices allegedly revealed numerous files of child sexual abuse material depicting victims ranging from infants to children as young as seven years old. The sheriff’s office said Mr Bailey was subsequently arrested and charged with 30 counts of possession of child pornography and using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.
During the search, it was reportedly discovered that Mr Bailey’s father, 51-year-old James Johnson, had failed to disclose a Facebook account as required under his sex offender registration. Mr Johnson was charged with failure to register and providing false information during registration, according to the WCSO.
Both men were transported and booked into the Walton County Jail. The sheriff’s office said the case remains under active investigation and that additional charges may be forthcoming.
