OKEECHOBEE — After a cyber tip was forwarded to the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office in July of 2020, an investigation was opened regarding child pornography. OCSO Detective Cristina Torres was assigned to the case after Okeechobee City Police Sgt. Bettye Taylor received the tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Taylor reviewed the material and found the photos to be criminal in nature.

The tip led to an IP address assigned to a woman on Northwest 31st Avenue. The woman’s son, identified as Neil Anderson, age 49, lives in her home and was determined to be in possession of four sexually explicit photos of minors. In addition, he is accused of electronically submitting at least one of the photos.

Although detectives found several Facebook and Instagrams in his name, Anderson reportedly said he did not know how to use either and denied setting up the accounts which were later tied to child porn. Anderson reportedly said he believes his accounts were hacked.

Anderson was arrested March 5 by OCSO and charged with transmitting child porn out of state and four counts possession of child porn. Bond will be set by the judge.