A 22-year-old Florida man faces 16 counts of possession of child pornography, after allegedly soliciting a 10-year-old boy for pictures via Xbox Live.


Police say Polk City resident Timothy Hammerstone confessed to receiving naked pictures of a 10-year-old boy from California after asking him to join his online gaming group on the Xbox 360. According to authorities, Hammerstone offered the boy 1,600 Microsoft points - $20 worth - to send him naked pictures.

Hammerstone was arrested last night in his home, where police deputies discovered a flash drive containing 40 naked photographs of the boy in various poses. He is currently being held in jail without bond.


Hammerstone

In a video posted on the Bay News 9 website, the Xbox Live profile for RSB Phoenix CO was flashed. Visiting that profile on Xbox.com shows the profile holder as the founder of gaming group RSB, the Relentless Society of Brothers.

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Members of the RSB could earn RSB gamertags by going up in the ranks. Police say Hammerstone created special accounts so he could communicate with his victim or victims without their parents' knowledge.

Hammerstone also maintains a Facebook page with 255 friends, many who appear to be younger males.


Polk City Sheriff Grady Judd believes there are more victims.

Stories such as this are showing up with alarming regularity these days. Now, more than ever, parents need to be aware of the parental controls available for their children's video game consoles, and above all else, keep an eye on their online activity.


Deputies: Man used Xbox to get child porn [Bay News 9 - thanks evldereck]