POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A first-grade teacher, a former animal control officer and Disney employees are among nine people who were arrested during an undercover child pornography investigation in Polk County.
The arrests were made during an undercover investigation “Operation Child Shield 3” focusing on the promotion, possession, and distribution of child pornography.
Among the nine people arrested was Juan Berrios, 64, who is a first-grade teacher at Palmetto Elementary School in Poinciana since 2007. Detectives received a tip that Berrios uploaded child porn depicting children between the ages of 3 and 6 years old. Detectives seized multiple computers from his home and say they located files depicting children as young as 6-8 months old.
“He doesn’t believe the children are victims. He says because they are not forced to do this and then he said, and they seemed to enjoy it and he suspects that a lot of times they are paid for it. Are you kidding me?” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
Berrios was charged with 35 counts possession of child pornography. Upon his arrest, the Polk County School Board suspended him without pay.
“It’s disgusting. As a mother and a teacher, as an administrator, as a community member we are held to protect and make sure all of our children are safe to make sure we provide an environment where there is a love of learning and they are save in that environment,” said Polk County School Superintendent Jacqueline M. Byrd
Former Animal Control officer, 31-year-old Siul Pastor of Lake Wales, was also found to be in possession of three video files containing child pornography, detectives say.
Sheriff Judd says some of the men arrested used their jobs to get closer to children.
“If you are of that mind set, if you work at one of these locations it gives you the opportunity to look for the weak for the vulnerable,” said Judd.
The other suspects are: Robert “Gary” Willis, 70, of Davenport, who is a retired electrical engineer and married; Kevin Nazzaro, 52, of Davenport, who is a cook at Big River Grille and Brewing Works at Disney’s Boardwalk; Thursk Seepersad, 27, of Lakeland, who was in the Navy from 2006-2011; Guillermo “Will” Torres III, 29, of Lakeland, who works at Publix in the bakery warehouse; Angel Rivera-Maldonado, 44, of Auburndale, who works in housekeeping at Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge; Terry Drawdy, 46, of Lakeland, who authorities say was having sexual conversations via Facebook messenger with a 15-year-old Ohio girl; and James A Ballone, 53, of Bartow who is charged with 65 counts of possession of child pornography, told detectives that he is the owner of J&K Cleaning.