Former Worship Director Arrested on Several Sex Charges

Early Thursday morning, a former worship director at Seven Rivers Presbyterian Church in Lecanto was arrested on several sex charges including video voyeurism and lewd and lascivious exhibition.

Chad Robison, 36 from Hernando, worked at Seven Rivers Presbyterian as the worship director from 2011 to 2017. Detectives started this case back in May when a coworker discovered inappropriate videos on Robison’s laptop that he had left at work. Church personnel immediately contacted our Major Crimes Unit and Robison’s employment was terminated from the church.

Utilizing special equipment from the Internet Crimes Against Children Central Florida Task Force, a detective with our High Tech Crimes unit began to scour through Robison’s laptop which contained thousands of videos and pictures. Since May, detectives have been sorting through more than 3,000 videos and over 350,000 pictures that were found on Robison’s laptop. Hundreds of items featured young girls performing virtual sex acts with Robison. Robison also filmed young girls who visited his home while they were using his restroom without their knowledge.

Our detectives have already discovered several out of state victims including from Canada and New York and have made contact with the appropriate jurisdictions. Videos that our agency has obtained go back several years all the way through to just a couple of months ago.

“We believe there could be multiple victims. Some may be local here in Citrus County, and others across the states and abroad,” says Major Crimes Capt. Brian Spiddle. “It’s going to be a very difficult and long process to find those who have been victimized by this man.”

“I commend the detectives that have been working on this case,” says Sheriff Prendergast. “We’ve just scratched the surface and already we know there are several victims out there. I’m so proud of this unit and what they’ve done to bring charges against this very sick man.”

Robison is charged with 3 counts of lewd and lascivious exhibition, specifically intentionally masturbates live over a computer online services knowing that the transmission is viewed by victim less than 16 years of age; 1 count of knowingly promoting sexual performance by a child; and 3 counts of Video Voyeurism for own use; with a total bond of $26,000.

Citrus County Sheriff Departnent is asking parents, church parishioners and anyone who may have had contact with Robison and think they may have been victimized, to please contact our Communications Center at 726-1121 and ask to speak with Major Crimes regarding this specific case.

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