22-045 ***UPDATE- Additional Charges Added*** Detectives Arrest Safety Harbor Man for Intentional Viewing of Child Pornography
CAC Arrest
***UPDATE as of 11:00 a.m. on May 19, 2022***
After a forensic analysis of Kistulentz's cell phone was conducted, the Digital Forensics Unit located 10 images of child pornography.
Kistulentz has been charged with an additional 10 counts of Possession of Child Pornography.
***END OF UPDATE***
**Original News Release**
Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
Investigative Operations Bureau
-Crimes Against Children (CAC) Unit
-Digital Forensics Unit
Steven Kistulentz (Suspect- Arrested)
DOB: 01/18/1967
Address: 404 7th Street North, Safety Harbor
Charge: Two counts of Intentional Viewing of Child Pornography - Additional charges are pending
PINELLAS COUNTY- Detectives assigned to the Crimes Against Children (CAC) Unit have arrested a Safety Harbor man for intentional viewing of child pornography.
Detectives began their investigation after receiving information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that child exploitation material was being uploaded via the social media/messenger application Kik. Through various investigative techniques, detectives were able to identify the suspect as 55-year-old Steven Kistulentz.
Detectives obtained a search warrant for Kistulentz’s residence, located at 404 7th Street North in Safety Harbor. Electronic devices belonging to Kistulentz were seized from the residence and additional charges are pending once the forensic analysis of the electronics is complete.
On May 17, 2022, detectives arrested Kistulentz and charged him with two counts of Intentional Viewing of Child Pornography.
During an interview with Kistulentz, detectives say he admitted to ownership of the Kik account and to also receiving and sending files involving child pornography. He was transported to the Pinellas County Jail without further incident.
Kistulentz is currently employed at Saint Leo University as the director of the graduate program in creative writing and associate professor of English. Detectives say their investigation has not revealed any victims at this time.
If anyone has additional information regarding this case, please contact the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Crimes Against Children Unit detective J. Hanna at (727) 582-6724 or jhanna@pcsonet.com.
The investigation continues.
