A Florence man has been indicted on more than 2,000 charges, including allegations that he produced pornography with local children younger than 12.

Hunt

Jeffery Dale Hunt, 48, has been indicted by a Lauderdale County grand jury on 1,996 counts of possession of child pornography and 295 counts of production of child pornography, Florence police announced today.

Police learned Hunt was producing child pornography after they searched his home on Wilson Avenue with a warrant, Sgt. Brad Holmes said.

"Through the investigation of these crimes it has been found that several of the child victims are from the local area," Holmes said in a news release. "These exploited children are all under the age of 12."

Florence police are closely working with child service organizations to help the victims.

This case is the culmination of a three-month investigation that began when Detective Drew Harless received a cyber tip in December about dissemination of child pornography, Holmes said.

That tip led to a search warrant being issued and items collected from Hunt's home were analyzed by the Alabama Department of Revenue Digital Forensics group, Holmes said.

Police said that analysis revealed Hunt possessed and created child pornography.

"Our message is clear. If you engage in the exploitation of children, We will seek you out, We will bring you to justice, We will protect our children," Holmes said. "In December 2016, the Florence Police Department joined the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Through this partnership with law enforcement agencies throughout the state, detectives receive tips on illicit activity involving the exploitation of children. This case highlights the importance of the task force."

Hunt was arrested today and taken to the Lauderdale County Detention Center where bail is set at $500,000 cash only.

The possession charges are Class C felonies, punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment. The production charges are Class A felonies that carry a punishment up to life in prison.

Further details haven't been released.