PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. – A Putnam County father-son is accused of owning child sex abuse material after a cyber tip led to their home being searched, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office said Friday.
Detectives executed a search warrant early July 9 at a Crescent City home occupied by registered sex offender Gary Coston, 49, and his son, Dillan Coston, 27, after receiving a cyber tip that child sexual abuse material was being viewed on a computer linked to Dillan Coston.
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The warrant was served about 5 a.m. Gary Coston was not at the home when detectives arrived, despite being on probation. He returned while officers were still on the scene, and detectives say they found a social media account that had not been reported in his Florida Department of Law Enforcement sexual predator packet.
Inside the home, detectives located Dillan Coston and a cellphone they say belonged to him. Anticipating additional images, investigators seized the phone. A forensic review completed July 14 allegedly found hundreds of files depicting children — from infants and toddlers to those approaching adult age — in sexual acts or nude.
Detectives also say the phone contained an artificial intelligence–generated discussion in which Dillan Coston asked how people can be charged with a crime when they are caught by Chris Hansen if a minor isn’t involved. Hansen is known for the television series “To Catch a Predator” and for producing similar online videos.
Dillan Coston was arrested July 9 and initially charged with possession of sexual performance by a child and using a two-way communications device to facilitate a felony. Authorities later added 10 counts alleging possession of 10 or more child pornography images. He is being held in the Putnam County Jail on $305,000 bond.
Gary Coston faces an outstanding attempted capital sexual battery charge from a 2005 Clay County case. He was charged a probation violation and failing to report email addresses or internet identifiers, and remains held in the Putnam County Jail without bond.