INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office has arrested the owner of JRB Computers for possession of child pornography, according to authorities.
Detectives with the Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant Wednesday at the store located at 934 11th Place, south of the City of Vero Beach, according to a press release.
Charles Ballash III, 37, of Vero Beach, faces 10 counts of possession of child pornography as a result of the search. Ballash told authorities he is the owner-operator of the business and that he used peer-to-peer software that downloaded the child pornography.
“We are so proud of the work Detective Shepherd, Detective Scott, and our investigative unit does in cases like this,” said Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar. “Today’s criminals are running high-tech, sophisticated operations, but we have a group of high speed men and women who are coming after them.”
While Ballash was running a computer repair store, detectives have no evidence to believe any customer computer was used for illegal activity, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Computers belonging to Ballash were identified as being the source of the downloaded child pornography and were seized from the business.
Wednesday’s operation concluded a long term investigation into Ballash’s operation, according to authorities. Forensic analysis of the seized computers continued well into the night and further charges are expected once the analysis is complete.
“The pornography we have encountered so far includes children believed to be as young as 8 years old,” said Detective Shepherd. “The items we immediately identified as child pornography were in the same computer folder as videos of Ballash engaged in sexual acts with his wife.”