Brevard optician, missionary arrested on child pornography charges

David Bressette of Satellite Beach faces up to 15 years in prison

SATELLITE BEACH, Fla. – Brevard authorities are charging 56-year-old David Bressette with 10 counts of having child pornography, the children younger than 12.

"One of the family members accidentally observed a device that he had and there was an image on it, which was from a movie, that depicted child pornography," Tod Goodyear of the Brevard County Sheriff's Office told News 6.

Goodyear said Bressette's family alerted authorities. 

The optician lives on Lighthouse Landing Street in Satellite Beach and works at Seacrest Optical in Cocoa Beach fitting customers with corrective eyewear.

Two years ago, News 6 partner Florida Today reported he took his optician skills on a missionary trip to Central America where he worked with children.

A Florida Today photograph shows Bressette fitting a girl for glasses in Nicaragua.

A county judge Thursday assigned Bressette a $150,000 bond under conditions he cannot use the Internet.

It was not mentioned in court why Bressette made his first appearances on crutches. Bressette faces up to 15 years in prison.

Neighbors are reacting with shock and also fear for other children.

Erika Orriss told News 6 Bressette and his family were regulars at the city's annual Christmas boat parade.

"Never, never in a million years would we think that," Orriss said. "They seemed to be a normal family. It's scary because then you think about the kids on the block." 


About the Author:

James joined News 6 in March 2016 as the Brevard County Reporter. His arrival was the realization of a three-year effort to return to the state where his career began. James is from Pittsburgh, PA and graduated from Penn State in 2009 with a degree in Broadcast Journalism.

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