Orange City Man arrested for possessing child pornography.

Written by Kristen Schmutz

Belden Communications News

Detectives with the Volusia County Sheriff's Office have arrested Eric Bonnette, 39, at his residence off E. Wisconsin Avenue in Orange City on Thursday evening under a warrant following a crucial tip that led to the discovery of several sexually explicit photos of children on his electronic devices.

The investigation into Bonnette began after authorities were alerted to a disturbance at his home on April 7, 2023, where he was apprehended on unrelated charges for possessing weapons and ammunition as a convicted felon and violating an injunction for domestic violence protection. The Child Exploitation Unit detectives of the Volusia County Sheriff's Office then promptly initiated an investigation that resulted in search warrants for a cellphone found in Bonnette's possession at the Branch Jail and another for his residence in Orange City. During the execution of the search warrants, law enforcement officers seized several electronic devices, including cellphones, iPads, tablets, laptops, and a safe, which are under forensic examination at the Sheriff's Office.

Tragically, detectives uncovered a distressing assortment of sexually explicit photographs primarily featuring girls aged between 4 and 13 that Bonnette downloaded from the internet.

Bonnette is in custody at the Volusia County Branch Jail with a $1 million bond pending his first court appearance.

Given the deeply troubling nature of the materials discovered, the Sheriff's Office is asking anyone with additional information to come forward and contact the VSO Child Exploitation Unit at (386) 323-3574.