A Gainesville man was sentenced to more than 24 years in prison on child pornography charges Wednesday.
Gainesville Police Department started investigating Travonta Rivers in 2019 when a detective caught him trading child pornography.
The 34 year old was arrested in St. Johns County — where he works — after police obtained his computers with the videos in May 2020, according to a GPD press release. Homeland Security Investigations took up the case, and he was arrested for the same offense in December 2020. Rivers was convicted on two counts of receiving child pornography in July 2021.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office release noted GPD, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations were all involved.
“We will continue to work together to keep our children safe from victimization," Alachua County Sheriff Clovis Watson, Jr. said. "We've been effective in our collaboration and will continue to be. We are better together.”
Rivers' criminal history dates back to 2006; he has been charged with battery, theft and marijuana possession.
Authorities will supervise Rivers for 20 years after he serves his time in prison, according to the release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Contact Omar at oateyah@alligator.org. Follow him on Twitter @OAteyah.
Omar Ateyah is a third-year journalism student and the Alligator's Race and Equity reporter. He previously served as the Alligator's crime reporter and as a news assistant on the Metro Desk. He enjoys going on long, thoughtful walks.
