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BSO Sergeant Arrested On Over Two Dozen Child Porn Charges

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FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – The Broward Sheriff's Office said they have arrested one of their deputies on several child pornography charges.

BSO Sgt. Kreg Costa, 43, was taken into custody Thursday and is being held without bond.

He is facing a total of 29 charges, which include possessing or viewing a depiction of child sexual conduct and using or allowing a child to engage in sex.

"These charges are deeply disturbing. These allegations, if true, are reprehensible and actually disgusting," said Sheriff Scott Israel at a press conference Thursday about the arrest.

According to BSO, staff at the Weston district "noticed Costa staying in his office during his night shift with the lights off and his uniform belt and gun belt removed."

As a result, the Public Corruption Unit (PCU) started investigating Costa.

PCU detectives requested a computer usage report of Costa's work-issued laptop from January 1 to March 31.

BSO said the report revealed Costa was viewing hardcore pornography, incest-related and bondage/dominance websites while he was at work.

Detectives began to monitor Costa's internet activity and said they saw he was communicating with a 16-year-old girl.

Costa was allegedly exchanging sexually explicit messages through emails, Twitter and videos with the teen.

At one point, investigators said, Costa instructed the California teenager to record herself engaging in sex acts.

The girl told BSO investigators when she first started communicating with Costa, whom she knew by his Twitter handle @CallMeSir34, she told him she was 15.

BSO suspended Costa with pay on April 24 while the investigation continued.

PCU detectives finally arrested him Thursday morning when he arrived at the Public Safety Building for a training class.

Costa is married has two young children.

The sergeant was active in a Broward County youth football organization.

Costa, according to the documents, was shadowing young cheerleaders from the group on twitter.

Daniel Aaronson, Costa's attorney, released a brief statement following the arrest. It read:

"When all is said and done based on what we know and what we've investigated the charges are baseless and he will be exonerated."

Investigators believe there may be more victims and as anyone with additional information is urged to contact BSO Public Corruption Det. Jason Hendrick at (954) 321-1100 or anonymously at Broward Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-TIPS (8477).

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