Couple Arrested for Child Pornography Crimes in Florida
A couple from Manatee County, Florida, has been arrested on serious charges related to child pornography involving young children aged between 10 months and 10 years old. Nicholas Bassler Jr., 24, and Sierra Campany, 24, are now facing capital sexual battery charges, which carry a mandatory life sentence in prison without the possibility of parole.
This alarming case came to light when the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office received multiple cyber tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on June 5, 2023. These tips pointed to the transmission of child sexual abuse material on Facebook.
The investigation led detectives to a residence on the 5000 block of 23rd Street West in Bradenton, suspected as the source of the disturbing material. Subsequently, detectives contacted Bassler and Campany on September 13, which provided the basis for obtaining a search warrant for the residence.
During the execution of the search warrant, law enforcement seized a tablet mentioned in the cyber tip, along with several other electronic devices. A forensic examination of these devices uncovered numerous images and videos of child exploitation, including Bassler and Campany engaging in sexual acts with the children involved.
Both suspects have reportedly confessed to the crimes. Campany was arrested on September 14 for capital sexual battery, and Bassler was arrested the following day on the same charge. In addition to the capital sexual battery charges, both individuals face further charges related to the possession, transmission, and production of child pornography.
Detectives suspect that there may be additional victims in this case and urge anyone who believes their children may have been in contact with Bassler or Campany to reach out to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Crimes Against Children detectives at 941-747-3011 ext. 2522.
The investigation into this deeply troubling matter is ongoing.
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