Crime & Safety

Suspect Filmed Young Girls, Police Said

Investigators said the 46-year-old man was 'grooming' the girls to do future acts. The suspect would post some of his videos to YouTube.

A 46-year-old St. Petersburg man turned himself into Pinellas County authorities, after an investigation into him videotaping girls under 12, according to an article in tbnweekly.com.

Phillip Porvaznik of 6960 12th Ave. North, St. Petersburg, was booked into Pinellas County Jail on Aug. 23 and released on a $15,000 bond, according to the article.

Authorities launched an investigation in Feburary, after Porvaznik was stopped in Belleair by local police for running a stop sign. The suspect had three girls, ages 8, 9 and 11, in his vehicle. Porvaznik had been with the girls all night, but was not related to any of them, police said.

Police said that Porvaznik admitted to videotaping the girls frequently. The suspect is seen on a video he posted to YouTube as asking one of the girls to show her breasts.

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A subsequent investigation resulted in his arrest. Detectives said the suspect was "grooming" them to do future acts. He was arrested on a warrant for selling and distributing harmful materials to minors, police said.








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