WE ASK YOU: Did Police, Prosecutors Go Too Far?
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2026 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A Boca Raton teenager with what is described as “severe Autism” was arrested and jailed by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office on charges that he viewed and/or downloaded child pornography.
The teen who we are not identifying, 18 years old at the time of his arrest days ago, was originally booked and held without bond. But an emergency motion filed by an attorney on behalf of the teen led Palm Beach County Judge John Parnofiello to set the teen free — without posting bond — provided he complies with several conditions:
He must have no unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 18, have no access to the internet, have no access to any social media of any kind, have no access to any device that connects to the internet or can send or receive text messages, may have no computer or smart watch access, and must have no access to any hard drives — whether in a computer or stand-alone.
PBSO was also instructed that if it is necessary to place the teen in a cell, that he should be placed in a cell with his father.
A PBSO SWAT team was dispatched to the teen’s home to take him into custody. The Boca Raton Police Department was apparently separately investigating the teen but was proceeding slowly. It’s unclear what led PBSO to effectuate a felony arrest — in the City of Boca Raton — with a tactical team.
While viewing or downloading child pornography is unquestionably a criminal act, we ask our readers if felony criminal proceedings for teens with significant developmental issues — who are living at home with parents — is an appropriate approach for a case like this. Let us know what you think is the correct approach.
Teens with Autism are humans too and have sexual desires just like anyone else. Some want families. Was the experience too harsh? That depends on the individual and I would trust only a Dr to make the determination. The teen needs to understand the severity of the actions. I question the teens education… was it lacking so he didn’t know better? Has he been expressing needs and not understanding how to fulfill them? Has he ever been on a date, or does he understand how to treat a lady. Was this really an “oops” or a sign the teen needs some additional life classes? Obviously his parents should put blocks on the internet service.
A good friend of mine from church was high on the Autism scale. They discussed her condition and she agreed not to have children. They let her marry another young man with autism. They first let them have supervised visits. Then they allowed the couple to spend weekends together in their own apartment. But eventually they each chose to live at their parents homes and have visitations.
Every Autistic person is different though they have similar traits. It was good he was released back home. Hoping he was treated decently while in custody, and hoping he is okay now.
It seems probable that the young man in question was not fully able to understand the consequences of his actions. He should not have been treated like a criminal. Fortunately the court understood this and he was released from custody. Its now up to his family to monitor how he uses his cell phone. Perhaps his device should be replaced with a more basic cell phone that does not have internet capability. It can be explained to him that the new phone is for his protection.
Child porn is disgusting, evil and Illegal. The law doesn’t say if you are severely autistic you get a free pass to look at minors who are victims in sexual ways without the same consequences a non-autistic person would receive.
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