Teenagers help rescue one of their own from exploitation

Lt. Chris Imel with the Palm Bay Police Department issued a statement saying, "I can't say thank you enough to everybody who did, unfortunately, see these things and step forward, but thank God they did. We were able to get this juvenile out of a bad situation and hopefully safeguard her for the future."

Investigators received a number of tips from teenagers that were seeing concerning images posted on Snapchat with regards to a girl that had not been home in three weeks.

"We actually got multiple tips, so we had tips from relatives and tips from some juveniles who had seen some questionable material on social media, specifically Snapchat,” Imel stated.

Officers looked into the matter and were able to determine that she was at a hotel off of Interstate 95 in Cocoa with 25-year-old Temron McFarlane.

McFarlane admitted to knowing that the girl was underage and should have been in the custody of her legal guardians.

During a search of his cell phone, investigators reportedly found "explicit photos and videos" of the girl which were deemed to be child pornography.

WESH, citing the arrest documents filed by law enforcement stated that the photos and videos were being used to make money online.

McFarlane is in the custody of the Brevard Sheriff's Department on charges including lewd and lascivious battery of a victim between 12 and 16 and lewd and lascivious molestation of a child between 12 and 16.  He was arrested on January 18, 2021.

A total of seven charges have been filed against him  resulting in a total bond of $107,000.  He has court dates scheduled for February 8 and February 16.

The case on February 8 related to a charge of criminal mischief and resisting an officer without violence.  The case on February 16 relates to the charges against him relating to the teenage girl.

McFarlane has been in and out of custody in the past, most recently when he was arrested earlier this month, on January 12, for sheltering an unmarried minor without notice to parents or law enforcement. He was released on a $500 bond on that charge just two days later.