PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — A Saint Leo University employee has been arrested for intentional viewing of child pornography, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office (PCSO).
On Wednesday, Steven Kistulentz, 55, was arrested and charged with two counts of Intentional Viewing of Child Pornography and 10 counts of Possession of Child Pornography.
PCSO's investigation started "after receiving information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that child exploitation material was being uploaded via the social media/messenger application Kik."
After determining Kistulentz was involved, detectives obtained a search warrant for his Safety Harbor home where they took his electronic devices. Following a forensic analysis, PCSO said 10 images of child pornography were found.
PCSO said Kistulentz confessed during an interview that he owned a Kik account and did in fact receive and send child pornography files.
Kistulentz is currently employed at Saint Leo University as the director of the graduate program in creative writing and associate professor of English.
Saint Leo University provided the following statement regarding Kistulentz's arrest:
"Upon learning of the charges filed by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Saint Leo University has placed Steve Kistulentz on administrative leave and has suspended his access to the university. He will have no contact with students. We are awaiting further information as this matter is being investigated."
At this time, detectives said no victims have been revealed during their investigation.
If anyone has additional information regarding this case, please contact the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Crimes Against Children Unit detective J. Hanna at (727) 582-6724 or jhanna@pcsonet.com.
