Bond Set For BSO Sgt. Charged In Child Porn Case
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FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – A Broward Sheriff's sergeant charged with multiple counts of child pornography made his first appearance before a judge on Friday.
Sgt. Kreg Costa, 43, who was taken into custody Thursday, 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.
During the hearing, the state asked that bond be set at $345,000. Costa's lawyer countered that his client was married with two young children and not flight risk. They asked to have the bail set at $50,000.
"For Sgt. Costa, that's tantamount to no bond. We thought we presented a compelling argument as to why he's not a risk of flight, not a danger," said his attorney, Daniel Aaranson.
In the end the judge set bond at $250,000 with a number of stipulations, which included staying 1,000 feet away from any place where children gather.
His attorney told CBS4's Gary Nelson on the phone that it is unlikely he will make bond this weekend. Costa has to come up with $25,000 cash, and then collateralize the remaining $225,000.
An internal investigation was launched into Costa's activities after the staff at the Weston district noticed he staying in his office during his night shift with the lights off and his uniform belt and gun belt removed.
The department's Public Corruption Unit (PCU) detectives requested a computer usage report of Costa's work-issued laptop from January 1 to March 31. The report revealed Costa was viewing hardcore pornography, incest-related and bondage/dominance websites while he was at work, according to the sheriff's office.
Detectives began to monitor Costa's internet activity and said they saw he was communicating with a 16-year-old girl in California.
Costa allegedly exchanged sexually explicit messages through emails, Twitter and videos with the teen.
At one point, investigators said, he instructed the teen to record herself engaging in sex acts.
The teen, who used the handle "Babygirl," 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. He was arrested Thursday when he arrived at the Public Safety Building for a training class.
The sergeant used to be a coach in a Broward County youth football organization. Costa, according to the documents, was shadowing young cheerleaders from the group on twitter.
"While presently there is NO evidence to suggest ANY crimes were committed against our members, we are still taking a proactive approach and response to this matter. First, we have notified all our parents of the arrest and the allegations made therein. Second, we have been in contact with the Broward Sheriff's Office and have offered our complete willingness to assist their investigation in any way necessary," said Brandon Schoppert with the Sunrise Gators.
Schoppert said Costa, who was the organization's former president, has not been with them since he resigned his post in October 2015.
"You are never gonna who is who. You are never gonna find who that person is," said concerned parent Isarah Martinez. "You can't even trust your own family."
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).
