Spring Hill Man Arrested After CSAM Investigation

By Staff Writer — The Brooksville Signal

A disturbing case out of Spring Hill has once again underscored how essential strong laws, vigilant enforcement, and support resources are in combating child sexual abuse and exploitation.

On September 21, 2025, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office arrested Kevin Daniel Hondal Perez, age 22 (born June 4, 2003), on multiple charges after a months-long investigation into the possession and sharing of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

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What happened

• On March 16, 2025, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) flagged concerns about a social media account believed to be distributing or possessing CSAM. The tip was passed along to Hernando County law enforcement.
• Detectives obtained a search warrant for a property at 6333 Seahorse Avenue, Spring Hill. That warrant was executed on September 17, 2025. Perez was connected to the suspect account via phone number that investigators tied to the account. At that time, he had already moved to a residence at 7392 Landmark Drive, Spring Hill.
• During interrogation, Perez admitted that he had used the social media account to seek and share child pornography, with the most recent viewing of such material about a week prior to his arrest. He also acknowledged owning other devices (another phone, desktop computer, a tablet) which were searched, and in which investigators found additional illegal files.

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Charges

Hondal Perez faces:

• 14 counts of Possession of Child Pornography
• 2 counts of Possession of a Sexual Performance by a Child with Intent to Promote
• 1 count of Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device

He is currently held at the Hernando County Detention Center on a $255,000 bond.

Sheriff Al Nienhuis released a statement emphasizing the office’s “zero tolerance for possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material,” and assured that “any and all tips will be meticulously investigated; no stone will be left unturned.”

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Why this matters & what needs attention

• The importance of tip-lines and national databases like NCMEC in making early detection and referral possible. Without that initial tip in March, this may never have come to light.
• Need for better support & rehabilitation: While prosecution is essential, so is providing counseling and mental health resources to both victims (whose abuse is perpetuated by distribution online) and also for offenders who may have underlying issues, to prevent recidivism.
• Privacy, technology, and regulation: Devices and social media are frequently the vectors here. Strong regulation over how platforms respond to CSAM reports, and perhaps more investment in forensic capacity, are crucial.
• Community awareness: Education for parents, schools, and community organizations about how to recognize signs, how to secure devices, how to use parental controls, and how to report content.