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Disney, Universal employees among 16 arrested in Polk Co. child porn bust

POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Sixteen people were arrested in Operation Cyber Child III, an undercover sting by the Polk County Sheriff's Office focusing on adults traveling to meet minors to engage in sexual activity and on those who possess child pornography.

Disney and Universal employees were among the 16 people arrested, authorities said.

The operation included two phases: The first phase resulted in three arrests for possession of child pornography, and the second phase resulted in 13 arrests for those who traveled to have sex with those who they believed were underage girls and boys.

"Some have not gotten the message.  We are going to continue to conduct these investigations to protect our children from sexual predators, and from those who trade and download child pornography," said Sheriff Grady Judd.

Several of the individuals admitted they traveled to the undercover location looking for sex and several of them admitted to sending inappropriate pictures, authorities said.

One of the suspects was 26-year-old Zachary Spencer, who worked at Disney's Magic Kingdom.  Authorities said he sent sexually explicit messages to an undercover detective who posed as a 13-year-old boy.

Another Disney employee, Allen Treaster, was arrested after he told undercover detectives about his fantasies to have sex with a 14-year-old boy.

"He already had sex with a 15-year-old boy," said Judd. "He was working down to younger children."

Among those arrested was Matthew Tillesen, a geometry teacher at Haines City High School. Authorities said Tillesen was charged with 50 counts of child porn.

Deputies said this was the 10th traveler investigation operation conducted by the Polk County Sheriff's Office in coordination with other central Florida agencies since 2006.