Sexual offender arrested on child pornography charges

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Robert Merril McBride, 84, was arrested yesterday for possession of child pornography and failure to register an email address as a sexual offender.

On March 12, Gainesville Police Department (GPD) received a CyberTip from Microsoft about child sexual abuse material (CSAM) that was uploaded to BingImage, along with the IP address used to upload the images. Microsoft reported two images that were the same except for the file name, and they showed two pubescent juveniles who were partially clothed and posing in sexual positions.

A subpoena to Cox Communications revealed that the IP address belonged to McBride’s account at his home in the 2800 block of NW 34th Street.

McBride has been a registered sexual offender since he was convicted of lewd/lascivious assault on a child under 16 in 1988, and although he was required to provide all internet identifiers and email addresses within 48 hours of creating them, he had not disclosed any internet identifiers or email addresses; he last registered at the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office on March 18, 2025.

On June 18, GPD executed a search warrant at McBride’s home, and McBride reportedly said he had lived at the home for about 32 years.

Post Miranda, McBride at first reportedly denied possessing or distributing any child sexual abuse material via Microsoft, but he said he uses the Edge browser to view pornography. He reportedly admitted after some time that law enforcement would find evidence of the CSAM images on his device and later admitted to possessing and distributing the CSAM images. When he was shown a sanitized image of the material sent by Microsoft, he reportedly estimated the ages of the two girls as between 10 and 12 years old.

McBride reportedly said he views CSAM “too often” and had last viewed it “probably on Monday.”

An initial review of McBride’s laptop reportedly showed an open web browser with a page showing child erotica; the search history reportedly included multiple CSAM search terms. His cell phone was logged in to an email address, which McBride reportedly said he’d created “a couple of years ago.” He reportedly said he didn’t know he had to report it, although that information is on the form he signs every six months.

McBride has been charged with two counts of distribution of child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography, one count of unlawful use of a two-way communications device, and one count of failure to register an email address as a sexual offender.

McBride has one felony conviction for lewd/lascivious assault on a child under 16. Due to the nature of the charges, the court document showing his bail amount is not public, but the Alachua County Jail site shows that he is being held without bail.

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.