Former Child Protective Investigator arrested for possession of child pornography

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

Alan Cridebring, Jr., 48, turned himself in yesterday and was charged with 12 counts of possession of photographs depicting a sexual performance by a child and one count of possession of a child-like sex doll. The officer who wrote the arrest report made a note that Cridebring was a Child Protective Investigator with the Department of Children and Families just prior to the first known upload on April 30, 2021, and he was a Corrections Officer before moving to Florida two years ago; as a former law enforcement officer, his booking photo is not a public record.

According to the arrest report, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a CyberTip on May 1, 2021, from Microsoft regarding child sexual abuse material that was uploaded to BingImage. Microsoft provided the IP address associated with the upload. The IP address was connected to an address in Gainesville. A search warrant was executed on April 20, 2022, at the address, and contact was made with Cridebring, who declined to speak with law enforcement.

The computer in the living room only had one user account, in the name of Alan Cridebring, and it was unlocked when officers arrived. A search of the computer reportedly found 96 child sexual abuse images, but investigators note that there are other devices to be searched. The images depict children performing various sexual acts with adults. A child sex doll was also reportedly found.

Cridebring is being held on $1,300,000 bail, but a hearing is scheduled for April 26 to consider a motion to reduce the bond or release him on his own recognizance. That motion notes that Cridebring is a Certified Pre-Trial Officer, a certified Respiratory Therapist, and a licensed EMT and that prior to his arrest, he worked for Alachua County as a Pre-Trial Officer for a little over a year. He has been in the Gainesville area for about two years.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.