Close

1287: Charles Lake

Charles Oswald Lake

Charles Oswald Lake was a Lake Alfred City Commissioner at the time of his arrest in April, 2024. He is also a former Lake Alfred Mayor. He has resigned since his arrest after a search warrant turned up more than 300 images of Child Sexual Abuse Material.

Additional investigation added another 2896 charges.

He claims he was pursuing an academic interest that became a fascination. His affidavit is really something else. But be warned, it can be sick-making.

Republican Party voter registration
Former Lake Alfred city official, 90, faces 2,896 - Highlands News-Sun (Sebring, FL) - May 2, 2024 - page 1
May 2, 2024 | Highlands News-Sun (Sebring, FL) | Special to the Highlands News-Sun Provided by Polk County Sheriff’s Office
BARTOW — A former Lake Alfred City Commissioner who was arrested on April 18, 2024 by Computer Crimes
detectives from the Polk County Sheriff's Office had an additional 2,896 counts of enhanced possession of
child pornography filed against him Tuesday, April 30, following a forensic examination of his electronic
storage devices.
Charles Lake, 90, is now facing a total of 3,196 felony charges.
Following Lake's original arrest, a PCSO forensic technician examined all of his electronic storage devices that
were seized as evidence during a search of his residence.
The technician recovered 2,896 video and image files depicting pornographic sexual abuse images of children
between the ages of six months to 12 years old, and engaged in graphic sexual conduct with adults, children
and animals.
Detectives discovered that Lake allegedly had a very "compartmentalized" system of organizing and
categorizing the thousands of child sex abuse images he had. According to officials, found on his computers
and electronic storage devices were: child rape images and videos with adults sexually abusing (raping)
children, children engaged in graphic sexual conduct with other children, bestiality with children, and child
pornography that displayed children in lewd and sexually explicit situations. Lake had other "adult"
pornographic images and videos that allegedly included transgenderism and bestiality.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said, "Charles Lake is a public official with a dark, twisted involvement with the
exploitative child pornography trade. In the past, he has done photography for the city and local schools, and
has assisted people with their computers. We are asking if anyone is aware of or witnessed any inappropriate
interactions, images, or involvement associated with Charles Lake to contact the Polk County Sheriff's Office
at 863-298-6200."
Per Florida State Statutes, possession of child pornography is reclassified to the next higher degree
(enhanced), if the offender possesses 10 or more images of any form of child pornography regardless of
content; and the content of at least one image contains one or more of the following: a child younger than
the age of 5, sadomasochistic abuse involving a child, sexual battery involving a child, sexual bestiality
involving a child, or any movie involving a child.
Lake reportedly resigned from his city commission seat on April 23 after the initial charges of possessing 300
images and videos of child porn
Copyright © 2024, Highlands News-Sun, All Rights Reserved.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *