MIDDLEBURG, Fla. — A man was arrested Wednesday in connection to a child exploitation investigation, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office said.
Charles Peter Browne, 42, is facing one count of custodial sexual battery, CCSO said in a news release.
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The investigation was conducted by CCSO’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit and the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force.
Deputies served a search warrant at a home on Lazy Acres Road in Middleburg on Wednesday and the people inside came out and were detained during the search, CCSO said.
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Clay County District Schools released the following statement about Browne, who “performed work” in the district’s schools:
“Clay County District Schools has been made aware of the arrest of a Boys & Girls Club employee who performed work in our schools. While this individual was never an employee of the District and has not been involved with our schools since November 1, 2024, we take this matter seriously and are fully cooperating with law enforcement and the Boys & Girls Club as they conduct their investigation.
“The safety and well-being of our students remain our top priority. As this is an active investigation, we are unable to provide further details at this time. Any questions regarding the case should be directed to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.“
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida sent Action News Jax the following statement:
“The safety and well-being of our Club members is always the top priority of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida. We have strict policies in place to ensure a safe and secure environment for the youth we serve. All employees must successfully pass a background screening through the Florida Department of Children and Families before working with children in our programs.
“We can confirm that this individual is not currently employed with our organization and has not been since November of last year. While we cannot comment further on personnel matters, we remain committed to maintaining the highest standards of safety and care for our Club members and their families.”
Browne is in the Clay County Jail, but anyone with information in this case is asked to contact Detective Eva Solis at esolis@claysheriff.com or by phone at 904-673-5892.
Action News Jax’s Yona Gavino is looking into Browne’s background and will have the latest updates on CBS47 and FOX30 Action News Jax at 5.
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About Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force
The Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force is a unique public-private partnership where nonprofit organizations provide financial, technical, and other resources to regional law enforcement partners dedicated to the fight against human trafficking and child exploitation. Support from Operation Light Shine, and partner donors like the Tim Tebow Foundation, allow law enforcement agencies to better serve the northeast Florida communities and the many victims of human trafficking and child sexual exploitation.
Members of the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force consist of members with HSI Jacksonville, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Attorney with the Middle District of Florida Roger Handberg, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
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