Will Isern

wisern@pnj.com

A Pensacola man has been arrested on charges that he download more than 2,800 files of child pornography from the Internet.

Ronald Gathel Pickering Jr., 25, of the 9800 block of North Loop Road, was charged with 10 counts each of possession of obscene material and obscene communication. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail on $50,000 bond.

Pensacola Police Department detective Chris Wilkinson began investigating Pickering on June 17 after identifying Pickering’s computer as being used to download sexually explicit pictures and videos of children.

Agents with the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which is made up of officers from seven local, state and national agencies, served a search warrant at Pickering’s home Thursday morning.

Pickering’s first court appearance is set for July 31.

An online arrest log shows a hold has been placed on Pickering’s release by the U.S. Navy.

The investigation into Pickering’s online behavior is ongoing, and authorities couldn’t confirm Thursday whether Pickering is enlisted.