SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — A Longwood man accused of plotting to lure children to a home, rape them and then kill them and their families, has been found guilty on child pornography charges.
Shawn Thomas, 30, was arrested last summer on child porn charges after authorities received a tip that he was planning the rapes and slayings.
Thomas had no reaction when the jury convicted him on all 65 counts he was charged with. He faces up to 15 years in prison for each count.
Slideshow: Evidence in alleged murder-rape plot case
Audio: FDLE interview with Thomas' former roommate
On Tuesday, Thomas' roommates, Christina Baker and Anthony DeRosa, testified that Thomas owned a red laptop that was taken into evidence.
Thomas tried to pin the child porn on his roommates, who he said also had access to the computer, during the trial
Agents who were on the Cybercrimes Task Force and arrested Thomas testified Monday.
Prosecutors said they will be able to prove that Thomas downloaded child pornography on his computer.
Investigators said they found 60 images of child pornography on Thomas' laptop computer, and said some of the images showed children younger than 5 years old involved in sexual acts.
Witnesses also described a computer network Thomas was allegedly using to prevent anyone from tracking down the source of the pornography.
"The TOR network is basically its own Internet browser. It also serves as a way to hide your IP address," said FDLE Agent Thomas Padgett.
Defense attorneys said no fingerprints or DNA were collected at the scene, and there were other people in the house when investigators searched it.
There is no trial date set for Thomas on the charges related to the accusations that he intended to rape children and kill their families.
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