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Mulberry man arrested on child porn charges

MULBERRY, Fla. — A Mulberry man was arrested on charges of possession of child pornography, Polk County authorities said.

According to detectives, they received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) concerning a Google subscriber downloading three images of child pornography.

Sheriff's detectives obtained the IP address and email address information from Google, and found out it came from the home of 23-year-old Steven Markowitz on Digital Court in Mulberry.

Markowitz, who lives in the home with his mother and other family members, admitted to downloading and exchanging child pornography via the Internet and email, authorities said.

Detectives placed Markowitz under arrest and took his computer into evidence.

He was booked into the Polk County Jail on one count of possession of child pornography and is being held without bail.

Investigators said further charges are pending until the results of forensic analysis of Markowitz’s computer are available.