SEBASTIAN — A man faces more than two dozen child porn charges after being previously arrested for admitting to molesting a 12-year-old and being found with hundreds of inappropriate images of children, deputies said.
Deputies charged 24-year-old Randall Hitchcock, of the 100 block of Alhambra Avenue, Sebastian, on 26 counts of child porn. Hitchcock was held Thursday at the Indian River County Jail on $475,000 bond.
Indian River County deputies initially arrested Hitchcock April 9 on two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation involving a child from an incident that happened last year. Deputies went to the man’s home after receiving a cyber tip about child porn being uploaded from a laptop at the residence, authorities said.
Deputies seized the laptop from a bedroom, reports show. Deputies then got information that Hitchcock was at a relative’s residence in the 300 block of Harp Terrace.
Deputies went to the home and spoke to Hitchcock, who admitted he had and sent the explicit images, reports show. He also admitted to having child porn images on his phone, which was seized by deputies, authorities said.
While being interviewed, Hitchcock confessed to deputies he molested a minor last summer. Deputies spoke with the minor, who confirmed Hitchcock’s statements, deputies said.
The child’s gender was not released.
Deputies think Hitchcock might have molested other victims. Hitchcock worked as a dishwasher at Strike Zone Entertainment Center and spent time at Riverside Church, deputies said.
“We are asking parents to speak with your children to determine if any other inappropriate relationships have occurred,” Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar previously said in a statement. “We are concerned for their safety and well-being.”
Those with more information about the molestation case should contact sheriff’s Detective Aaron Scranton at 772-978-6127 or ascranto@ircsheriff.org. Callers can remain anonymous and possibly be eligible for a reward by contacting Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers.
Crime Stoppers can be reached at 1-800-273-TIPS or tcwatch.org.