A Florida Democratic Party official sent child porn to an undercover cop — then attempted to delete the sick material while hiding from responding officers in his attic, authorities say.
Matthew Inman, 39, of Orlando was arrested on charges of transportation of child sex abuse material, according to the US Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida, in a press release.
Inman, who was heavily involved in two local Democratic groups, had videos on his phone of children being sexually abused and expressed interest in being with a fictional 9-year-old boy, officials said.
He served as Orange County’s Democratic Party treasurer and the president of Rainbow Democrats, a nonprofit looking to “foster goodwill between lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and allied members of the Democratic Party and the community at large,” according to the group’s website.
From August to October of last year, Inman received and saved several videos of child sexual abuse material to his phone, the US Attorney’s office said.
In addition to the videos, which depicted adults sexually assaulting young children, Inman allegedly began talking to an undercover cop posing as the father of a 9-year-old boy.
“During this conversation, Inman expressed interest in meeting and sexually assaulting the purported child. He also sent [Child Sexual Abuse Material] videos to the undercover officer,” authorities said.
When the FBI went with a warrant to search his home, Inman attempted to delete the videos from his cellphone and “hide in the attic of his house,” authorities added.
Inman was a treasurer with the Orange County Democratic Party, which said in a statement that members were “appalled” by the news and have suspended him.
“We are deeply appalled and horrified by the news that Matthew Inman has been arrested on charges of sexual abuse involving a minor,” the group said. “We unequivocally condemn child sexual abuse in the strongest possible terms and hope that any victims involved receive the support and resources they need moving forward.”
Inman also served as the president of Rainbow Democrats, who said they were just as “shocked” to hear the allegations.
“We offer our condolences to any victims of child sexual abuse and hope justice will be served to the fullest extent of the law,” the group said in a statement.
Inman was also suspended from his role in the nonprofit group.
He was arrested by US Marshalls and is currently being held in the Seminole County Jail with no bond.
If convicted, Inman faces a minimum penalty of five years and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison.
