JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office arrested Deputy Blake Gruny Friday after an investigation was opened following a CyberTip from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children.
Gruny was a member of the department for 8 years. He now faces 13 charges.
The SJSO said the charges stem back to Oct. 4, when Internet Crimes Against Children Unit received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children concerning the upload of Child Sex Abuse Materials (CSAM) to an electronic service provider.
Gruny faces six counts of Possession of CSAM; six counts of Transmission of CSAM; and one count of Unlawful use of a Two-Way Communication Device.
"Protecting children from exploitation is a priority for SJSO, and offenders will be held accountable regardless of occupation or status," the Sheriff's Office said in a Friday night news release.
"This is an active investigation, and several items of evidentiary value are still being examined. We will provide additional updates as applicable."