UF Student Arrested for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material

Nathan Christopher Lewis, 20, was arrested last week and charged with one count of unlawful use of a two-way communication device, six counts of transmission of harmful material to minors, two counts of solicitation of child pornography and two counts of possession of child pornography.

A press release by the Gainesville Police Department (GPD) states the following:

“On Thursday, November 7, 2024, the Gainesville Police Department Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Division, with the assistance of GPD SWAT, served a search warrant at 710 SW Depot Ave, APT 234. The investigation was prompted after GPD received a Cyber Tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The Cyber Tip indicated that a Snapchat account holder distributed sexually explicit images to a minor child.

The investigation by Detective Montague, of the Gainesville Police Department, revealed that the likely account holder was Nathan Lewis (W/M, 09-11-2004) who resides at the listed location. Detective Montague conducted legal process which revealed that Lewis was communicating with a number of minors, six of which he distributed or and or received sexual content from. 

During a post Miranda interview, Lewis advised that he no longer has Snapchat because it was a "huge distraction". Lewis admitted to being the owner of the suspect Snapchat account as well as the author of the chats. Lewis stated that he was severely depressed and lonely, during the spring academic semester, and that he just wanted to talk to anyone and have an interaction.

Lewis initially stated that he knew he chatted with fifteen and sixteen-year-olds, but not any younger than that. When advised that there was evidence he chatted with numerous people who identified as thirteen, fourteen, fifteen and sixteen, Lewis again reiterated he went through a "rough" time during spring semester.”

Lewis’ bond is set at $275,000