By Staff Reporter
Andrew “Drew” McGaffigan / Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO)
iSkyNews.com (ISC News) – Published December 29th, 2025
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Auburndale Man Active in Local Church Arrested on 76 Counts of Child Pornography, Held Without Bond
POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A 39‑year‑old Auburndale man who is active in his local church has been arrested and charged with 76 counts of possession of child pornography following a multi‑agency investigation, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Andrew “Drew” McGaffigan was first taken into custody on December 17, 2025, after Polk County Sheriff’s Office Cyber Crimes detectives charged him with 30 counts of child pornography. After a forensic review of his electronic devices, investigators filed an additional 46 charges on December 23. McGaffigan has remained incarcerated since his initial arrest. His original bond was set at $300,000—$10,000 per charge—but he is now being held without bond.
Investigation Triggered by NCMEC Cybertips
The case began when both the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the Auburndale Police Department received multiple cybertips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The tips indicated that child sexual abuse material was being uploaded to cloud storage from a device linked to McGaffigan.
Detectives obtained an electronic search warrant for the account and discovered 30 files depicting children between 9 months and 12 years old being abused. Investigators noted that none of the victims appeared to be children McGaffigan had access to in his personal life.
An arrest warrant was issued, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office took McGaffigan into custody at his workplace in Plant City before transferring him to the Polk County Jail.
Additional Material Found on Seized Devices
Following McGaffigan’s arrest, detectives seized his cell phone and other electronic devices. A forensic examination uncovered 46 additional images and videos of child sexual abuse material. Investigators reported that the victims in these files ranged from approximately 6 months to 9 years old.
Some files also contained captions advocating for the legalization of pedophilia and encouraging the abuse of children, according to the sheriff’s office.
Church Involvement Noted
Authorities confirmed that McGaffigan is actively involved with the First Baptist Church of Auburndale. At this time, investigators have not identified any victims connected to his personal or church activities but say that part of the ongoing investigation includes determining whether he had access to children.
Sheriff Judd’s Statement
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd condemned the nature of the allegations in a statement:
“This suspect is the worst of the worst. Here is a married man with children of his own advocating for the sexual abuse of babies and children. He’s also active in his local church. We will continue our thorough investigation to determine whether or not he has abused any child to whom he has access.”
The investigation remains active.
Stay tuned to iSkyNews.com for the latest news.
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