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Former Disney costume manager, lego builder among 11 arrested in undercover child porn sting

Posted at 6:48 AM, Jun 05, 2018
and last updated 2018-06-07 13:03:29-04

This story has been updated to clarify that among those arrested were a former Walt Disney employee and a Lego builder for Merlin Entertainment not an employee of Legoland.

POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Polk County detectives arrested 11 men during their latest undercover child pornography investigation. 

"Operation Guardians of Innocence II" focused on identifying and arresting those involved in the possession, promotion, and distribution of child pornography. 

A total of 660 felony charges were filed against the suspects and more charges are pending. 

A former Walt Disney employee, lego builder and Boy Scout parent helper were among the 11 arrested. 

"As you know, this is just the beginning - once we serve search warrants and seize the devices that these suspects are using to download and distribute pornography, we will do a complete forensic analysis, and in all likelihood we will be adding on more charges related to the felony possession and distribution of images and videos of children being sexually battered. Most of the images we saw during this investigation depicted children being sexually battered, that we have seen before - which means we haven't yet identified any local child victims, but as always, that is also a part of our investigation" said Sheriff Grady Judd.

RELATED: 17 men arrested in undercover child sex sting 

 

The following suspects were arrested in the sting: 

  • Edward Zaborowski III, 48, of Davenport, bartender in Orlando, parent helper and driver for his son's Boy Scout Troop
    • 64 counts possession of child pornography - enhanced (F-2)
    • one count promotion of sexual performance by a child (F-2)
  • Richard Cousins, 64, of Davenport, a registered sex offender, arrested in 1992 in Maine for sexual assault on two male victims under 13
    • 143 counts possession of child pornography - enhanced (F-2)
    • 3 counts promotion of sexual performance by a child (F-2) 
  • Bruce Nopper, 51, of Auburndale
    • 12 counts possession of child pornography (F-3)
    • 1 count promotion of sexual performance by a child (F-2)
  • Rickie Vargas-Garcia, 30, of Davenport, a Lego builder for Merlin Entertainment, arrested in 2008 in Virginia for DUI
    • 10 counts possession of child pornography - enhanced (F-2)
  • Don Carrier, 84, of Davenport
    • 200 counts possession of child pornography - enhanced (F-2)
  • Roger Catey, of Davenport, 53, a Walt Disney World project manager in costumes department A Disney spokesperson tells ABC Action News Catey no longer works for Walt Disney World.
    • 24 counts possession of child pornography - enhanced (F-2)
    • 2 counts promotion of sexual performance by a child (F-2)
  • Mathew Sentz, 35, of Lakeland, a registered sex offender arrested in 2000 for possession of child pornography when he was 17-years-old
    • 100 counts possession of child pornography - enhanced (F-2) 
  • Jarrod Whiting,  24, of Lakeland      
    • 14 counts possession of child pornography - enhanced (F-2)
  • Alejandro Baltazar II, 20, of Mulberry, a student at Hillsborough Community College
    • 55 counts possession of child pornography - enhanced (F-2)
  • Donald Marich, of Lake Alfred, 69, a retired schoolteacher, a Disney annual pass holder that frequently attends the theme park alone
    • 16 counts possession of child pornography - enhanced (F-2)
    • Three counts promotion of child pornography (F-2)
  • A 16-year-old boy from Kissimmee
    • 12 counts possession of child pornography - enhanced (F-2)

Sheriff Grady Judd will provide more information on the arrests at a 1:30 p.m. press conference on Tuesday at the PCSO Sheriff's Operations Center.