JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Disclaimer: Some will find details in this report to be graphic. Discretion advised.
A cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children led to the arrest of a Jacksonville man.
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Michael Covas Jr., 35 was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon by federal marshals on 13 counts of possessing child pornography and two counts of sexual activities involving animals.
According to the arrest report, the investigation into Covas began last year when JSO received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The tip listed more than 300 files believed to contain explicit material involving children being sexually exploited.
A search of two different IP addresses led detectives to Covas’ home and place of employment, which was located at Jacksonville International Airport.
Airport police confiscated two cell phones as evidence for the JSO investigation.
Investigators said a search of the phones and other evidence seized from Covas’ home revealed multiple images of children being sexually abused and exploited. They said they also found explicit material involving a person and an animal.
Criminal counts one through 13 are all listed as possessing 10 or more explicit images of child sexual abuse. Criminal counts 14 and 15 state sexual activities involving animals, which fall under the category of animal sexual abuse.
Covas remains in the Duval County jail on a $365,000 bond. An attorney not affiliated with the case told News4JAX that if Covas is convicted on all counts, Covas could face decades behind bars.