SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - An autism specialist and psychologist for Miami-Dade County Public Schools has been arrested for allegedly possessing and distributing child pornography on social media.
The arrest was prompted after the Miami-Dade Police Department and Internet Crimes Against Children Unit received a cyber tip in May from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that detailed a subject was uploading child sexual abuse content to a social media platform.
After receiving the tip, the ICAC Unit conducted a thorough investigation into the matter with a judge authorizing a search warrant for the subject’s Instagram account, police said.
According to Miami-Dade Police, the search revealed that the suspect promoted and distributed two videos of child sexual abuse material to over 50 platform users.
Cellphone video captures the moment Miami-Dade Police were at the subject Dr. Robert Lee Turner’s home located along the 18000 Block of SW 148th Road in southwest Miami-Dade with a search warrant early Monday morning. MDPD’s Special Response Team was seen standing outside along with an armored vehicle.
“To be packed out with so many cops cars, it has to be something intense,” said Omar Perra, a neighbor.
According to the police report, the 62-year-old locked the front door and tried to “barricade himself in a locked bathroom,” and then “braced the door,” to try to keep officers out. Police were able to kick open both the front and bathroom doors to arrest Turner. He was transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
Turner worked closely with children with special needs in Miami-Dade County.
“Robert Lee Turner is a counselor for Miami-Dade Public Schools. He traveled from school-to-school within the school district and has been in contact with numerous children,” said Miami-Dade Police Department Det. Andre Martin. “What’s even more disturbing is he was a counselor for children with special needs, who tend to be the most vulnerable of our juvenile population.”
Neighbors of Turner were sickened and saddened to find out what the arrest was about.
“It’s –it’s very sad,” said Perra.
On Tuesday, Turner appeared in court before Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy S. Glazer.
“Can you afford a lawyer to represent you in this case,” said Glazer to Turner during the court hearing.
“Right now, I would have to use whoever is with me,” said Turner.
During his court appearance, a prosecutor explained why he wanted Turner on house arrest if he bonds out of jail.
“Just part of the defendant’s work, he was working with special needs kids, including kids with autism, which could also entail adults that have graduated from the school system that but still have, suffers from autism. So, the state’s concerned that if the defendant is just at liberty while he’s out that there’s a risk to adult members of the community that are special needs,” said the prosecutor.
Turner faces five counts of child pornography, two counts of sharing child pornography and one count of resisting arrest.
His bond was placed at $28,000 and if he bonds out of jail, he will be on house arrest.
In addition, Turner isn’t allowed any unsupervised contact with children under the age of 18 nor is he able to use the internet in any other instance than to consult an attorney.
Miami-Dade Public Schools released the following statement:
Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) is deeply troubled by the disturbing allegations made against this individual. This type of behavior will not be tolerated. As such, the individual’s employment with the District has been terminated and he will be precluded from seeking future employment with M-DCPS.Before his arrest, Turner had been working with the M-DCPS since 2017. He had been assigned to two to three schools at a time.
Police said they are pleased to know he will be kept away from children.
“We are glad we were able to get this individual off the streets and away from our children,” said Martin.
MDPD advises parents to speak to their children and educate them on these matters.
“Speak to your children, educate them on the fact that things like this happen,” said Martin.
As of Wednesday morning, Turner did not bond out of jail.
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