Sarasota man charged with 40 counts of child pornography possession

A 47-year-old Sarasota man was arrested Tuesday and charged with 40 counts of child pornography possession, according to the Sarasota Police Department.

Police say they received a tip in October from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that Scott Johnston had downloaded two images of child pornography and an investigation was launched.

Johnston, who was working at the Waffle House on State Road 64 and Interstate 75 in Manatee County shows a listed residence at a rooming house in the 3500 block of Tangier Terrace in Sarasota. Five other people lived in the home, but were all cleared and stated “shock” at Johnston’s activities.

Police executed a search warrant for the entire property on Jan. 21 with Sarasota police detectives and SWAT. As police entered the home, Johnston was seen at his computer “tampering with something,” according to the report.

During an interview with detectives, Johnston admitted he had searched for the child pornography images and an ensuing forensic examination of his computer revealed more than 100 images of child porn depicting children engaged in multiple types of sexual activities.

Johnston was booked into the Sarasota County jail and he remains in custody without bond.