UMATILLA, FL (352today.com) – The Marion County Sheriff’s Office arrested a local man yesterday and charged him with multiple offenses related to using an artificial intelligence program to create child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
MCSO Major Crimes Detective Chase King began investigating 39-year-old Lucius Martin of Umatilla on Monday, Sept. 29 after receiving a tip and viewing evidence, provided by the tipster, that Martin had images of two juvenile victims on his phone. Digital forensics revealed that Martin had indeed altered the images to create offensive material.
Later in the day, an MCSO corporal located Martin and conducted a traffic stop. According to an MCSO media release, Martin barricaded himself in his car long enough to reset his phone in an attempt to destroy the evidence. He was eventually transported to the Marion County jail, where he refused to speak to Detective King.
Martin was arrested and charged with four counts of Creating Child Pornography, four counts of Possession of Child Pornography, and one count of Destroying Evidence in a Felony Investigation. He is currently being held without bond.