Father, Son Facing Charges
Prosecutors: Child porn found on computer, drugs found in home.
By Dana Willhoit
The Ledger
BARTOW | Lakeland resident Shawn Newberry, 18, was back before a judge Friday, this time facing charges of child pornography, and he had his father, Jessie Vaughn Newberry, with him.
His father wasn't there to offer moral support, however.
He was there for a first appearance hearing because he had been arrested late Thursday night for possession of cocaine and marijuana and intent to sell marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school, police said.
Shawn Newberry previously was arrested Oct. 15 after police say he wore a bulletproof vest to school.
Further investigation led to charges of criminal mischief, grand theft and armed trespassing.
When police searched the home where Newberry lived, 2108 Selkirk Lane N., police found numerous rounds of ammunition of different calibers and a video camera that showed Newberry and three other young men and a woman who appear to be doing target practice with an AK-47.
Lakeland police reviewed a computer seized when they searched Newberry's home, and allegedly found child pornography on the computer, which led to the new charges, according to the State Attorney's Office.
Newberry was charged with 26 counts of possession of child pornography.
According to the State Attorney's Office, the boys and girls in the pictures appeared to be between the ages of 3 and 9.
At the video first appearance hearing Friday, public defender Richard Blank told Polk County Circuit Judge Robert Williams that Newberry was waiving his right to hear the judge read aloud the new charges against him.
When Williams started to discuss setting bail for the charges, Blank spoke up again, reminding the judge that Newberry did not want the charges read out loud.
Williams asked Newberry if he was currently employed. Newberry replied, "I'm quite confident I'm no longer employed." Newberry said that he had worked at Pizza Hut, from about 5 p.m. to midnight most nights.
Williams said that if Newberry were able to post bail, he would be on a curfew starting at 12:30 a.m., that he would need to surrender any computers in his possession, and that he could not associate with minors or possess any firearms.
He set Newberry's bail on the new charges at $10,000 for each count, for a total of $260,000. Newberry is being held on $605,000 bail for his previous charges.
Jessie Newberry's bail was set at $7,000.
Williams said that if he were to make bail, he would need to submit to drug testing and report to pretrial services twice a week.
Williams ordered that a public defender be appointed for Jessie Newberry, who said he earned only $640 a month. He didn't mention the source of the income.