Santa Rosa Beach man faces 60+ child porn charges

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. — A South Walton County man is facing more than 60 felony charges, including the possession and distribution of child porn.

Christopher Pappenfort, 44, of Santa Rosa Beach, was arrested on March 14 by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) Cyber Crimes Unit.

According to the WCSO, the investigation by the Cyber Crimes Unit stemmed from a tip received by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding a social media app user allegedly transmitting files of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).

According to reports, the files mentioned in the tip that the WCSO Cyber Crimes Unit received contained videos of sexually abusing children between the ages of three and thirteen. The WCSO said the investigation revealed that Mr Pappenfort sent videos to app users nearly 60 times.

According to the WCSO, after multiple subpoenas were issued to phone, internet, and social media providers, two search warrants were served on March 14—one of which was on Pappenfort’s residence on Mack Bayou Drive.

During the searches, numerous electronic devices were reportedly seized, and investigators said they could link Mr Pappenfort to accounts that were used to send the CSAM.

Pappenfort is charged with six counts of possession of child porn, 58 counts of transmitting child pornography, and one count of using a two-way communication device in the commission of a felony. Additional charges may be forthcoming.

Mr Pappenfort was issued a $25,000 bond.