A former member of the Special Forces was taken into custody at Pensacola International Airport on suspicion of sexually abusing children.
In Walton County, 42-year-old Brendan Souder is facing the following charges:
- lewd and lascivious battery of a child 12-16 years old
- lewd and lascivious molestation of a child 12-16 years old
- possession of child pornography
- child abuse
- having sex with a victim 16-17 with a suspect over the age of 24
Souder allegedly engaged in two years of sexual abuse and grooming of a kid, as reported by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office.
The Walton County sheriff’s office received the Souder report on Wednesday, August 28.
The sheriff’s office stated in a Facebook post that the victim, a child, was introduced by Souder through competitive shooting. Within a year, they began a predatory sexual relationship that lasted for two years.
“It was reported Souder met the juvenile victim through competitive shooting and within a year was engaging in a predatory sexual relationship lasting two years,” the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post.
In Gaskin, along County Highway 181 East, on Thursday, authorities executed a search warrant at the shooting range that Souder had put up for his business. The search yielded evidence that provided deputies with probable cause to arrest Souder, they say.
“Due to circumstances surrounding the investigation, the egregiousness of these charges, and Souder’s background in Special Forces and firearms training, the U.S. Marshal’s Task Force assisted in his apprehension,” the sheriff’s office said.
As soon as Souder stepped off a plane at Pensacola International Airport on Saturday, he was taken into custody by the authorities. He is now being held pending extradition to Walton County Jail from Escambia County Jail.
“There is absolutely no excuse for an adult to prey on a child,” said Captain Duston Cosson of the Walton County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Bureau. “Acting quickly in this case helped secure crucial evidence leading to Souder’s arrest and protecting the victim. Our hope is that we can be the voice for justice to hold him accountable for his accounts.”