Mastic Beach Man Arrested on Child Pornography Charges; Police Seize Four Assault Rifles
MASTIC BEACH, N.Y. — A 69-year-old Mastic Beach man was arrested Friday morning after a child pornography investigation led Suffolk County Police detectives to allegedly uncover multiple illegal assault rifles and high-capacity magazines inside his home.
According to Suffolk County Police, the investigation began after the department's Digital Forensic Unit received a tip through the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program regarding suspected child sexual abuse material.
Armed with a court-authorized search warrant, detectives searched a residence on Cranberry Drive in Mastic Beach at approximately 7:06 a.m. Friday. During the search, investigators arrested Brian Tilts, 69, and allegedly recovered four assault rifles along with seven high-capacity magazines.
Tilts has been charged with Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child and Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child, offenses related to the alleged possession and distribution of child pornography.
In addition to the child pornography charges, Tilts also faces four counts of Criminal Possession of an Assault Weapon in the Third Degree and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree after detectives allegedly seized the firearms during the execution of the search warrant.
The assault rifles and high-capacity magazines were taken into police custody as evidence.
Tilts was transported to the Suffolk County Police Seventh Precinct, where he is being held overnight pending arraignment. He is scheduled to appear on Saturday, June 27, in First District Court in Central Islip.
The investigation was conducted by the Suffolk County Police Digital Forensic Unit in coordination with the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program.
