KISSIMMEE, Fla.,None — A Disney security guard, who checked children's bags as they entered Hollywood Studios, was arrested Thursday and faces over 50 counts of child pornography. Police say he was sharing illegal images online.
Rodney Dillon, 65, has no criminal record, so Disney's background checks wouldn't have caught anything.
READ LIST: Disney-Related Child Porn Arrests Since 2006
However, a mental health counselor told Eyewitness News that it's an easy step from watching child porn, to acting it out on an unsuspecting victim. He says predators often start looking at pictures of children and when that's no longer exciting, they look for opportunities to prey on children.
The Disney employee was checking bags and purses and was surrounded by young children.
Dillon was arrested on 55 counts of possessing and sharing child porn.Tourists were stunned when they were told that Dillon had direct contact with children while working at Disney.
"If you look at children porn, you have other issues that need to be addressed and you don't need to be around kids," one parent said.
A detective forwarded the information to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement [FDLE] and a search warrant was served on January 7 at Dillon's home on W. Irlo Bronson Highway in Kissimmee. After investigating Dillon's computer, authorities determined that he was in possession of and offering to distribute large amounts of images and videos of child pornography. Dillon also had numerous fantasy stories about the sexual abuse of children.
Dillon was arrested and booked into the Osceola County jail.
David Euwema is a mental health counselor who treats sexual predators. He says they often start looking at pictures and then progress to acting out their fantasies.
"Predators are opportunistic. They might not plan per say on touching a child, but if an opportunity comes up they will take advantage of it," Euwema said.
While Dillon is not accused of molesting children, FDLE agents were concerned about the porn and notified Disney who put him on administrative leave.
"It seems to be somewhat of a growing trend," he said.
In 2008, FDLE arrested 123 people on child porn charges. Last year, that number grew to more than 350 arrests.
While there have been numerous theme park employees being arrested for child porn in the past (full list) , the FDLE says the company has more than 58,000 employees.
The FDLE recently dedicated one full-time employee to do nothing but search for people in the Orlando area who are downloading child porn.
FDLE said the investigation is ongoing and additional charges are pending.
Previous Stories: January 4, 2010: Disney Employee Faces Child Porn Charges September 8, 2009: Man Accused Of Sex Assault At Disney Resort July 29, 2009: Disney Employee Facing Child Porn Charges July 16, 2009: Molestation Arrest at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon March 16, 2009: Disney Employee Facing Child Porn Charges
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