Sagamore Hills police detective tips off child porn suspect weeks before searching his home

SAGAMORE HILLS, Ohio (WOIO) - A Sagamore Hills man who pleaded guilty to a child pornography charge didn’t receive any jail time ― but what may be even more surprising; the detective investigating the case tipped him off weeks before his arrest.

The case began after Google sent a cyber tip to ICAC, the “Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force”, in September 2022.

Police body cam video obtained by 19 Investigates shows Sagamore Hills police executing a search warrant at the home of 24-year-old Anthony Strong a year later, in October 2023.

Video shows officers with guns drawn, approaching Strong in his driveway as he exited his vehicle.

“This is for any alleged child porn, any electronics, anything that will be seized,” Sagamore Hills Police Detective Victoria Miavitz can be heard telling Strong after officers cuffed him and took him inside the house where they began their search.

Officers weren’t able to find any evidence ― however, Strong was eventually convicted of one count of “Pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor”, a fourth-degree felony. Court records indicate the offense occurred on September 18, 2022.

In September 2022, records show Google flagged a 14-second file the company identified as child pornography ― which it says was downloaded to Strong’s computer and cell phone.

The case was then assigned to Sagamore Hills Police Detective Victoria Miavitz. Reports show for the next several months investigators subpoenaed Strong’s emails and phone records.

A year later ― on September 21st, 2023 ― records show Miavitz contacted Strong.

According to Miavitz’s incident report, she then, “Advised him that his name came up in a case she was working on.”

The report states Strong agreed to go to the police department to discuss the issue. When he didn’t show up ― Detective Miavitz called his attorney, James McDonnell.

In her report Miavitz writes, she told McDonnell, “His client was downloading child pornography which is illegal.”

She went on to tell him,

In Miavitz’s report she writes, “The next day, I spoke with the Summit County prosecutor, and she confirmed that was okay to offer that to the attorney’s client.”

However, Strong failed to turn himself in.

It would then take three long weeks before Miavitz obtained a warrant to search Strong’s home.

By that time, any evidence of child pornography was long gone.

On the body cam video Miavitz can be heard questioning Strong’s mother about the whereabouts of his phone.

“Do you know where Anthony’s phone is?” asked Miavitz.

“Actually, he left it here last night,” replied Tammy Strong.

Strong told officers he previously had a Google Pixel cellphone but had since lost it.

“All I have is a flip phone,” said Strong. “I have nothing else to give you guys.”

On the body cam video, you can hear Miavitz continuing to question Strong’s mother.

“He doesn’t have it anymore?” Miavitz asked.

“He told me he lost it,” replied Tammy Strong.

“He lost it?” asked Miavitz. “Do you know where he lost it?”

“No,” replied Tammy Strong.

When detectives questioned Anthony Strong about his computer ― he claimed he got rid of it because it was no longer working.

“Do you know where it is?” asked Miavitz.

“I threw it out,” said Strong. “The first time I can remember ― and that was back in like March. I don’t have anything to give you guys. I would.”

When police finished their inspection, Miavitz concluded her report.

19 Investigates contacted Miavitz for comment.

“It was investigated, he was convicted of a felony and that was it,” said Miavitz.

19 Investigates then asked Miavitz if she could explain why she notified Strong’s attorney about the nature of the investigation prior to executing a search warrant for his home.

“No, I cannot,” said Miavitz.

Although Miavitz is tight-lipped about the case now, she spoke freely about it on body cam video after searching Strong’s home.

19 Investigates reached out to Strong but haven’t heard back.

This past May, Strong pleaded guilty to one count of possessing child pornography.

He received no jail time for his conviction but was sentenced to 18 months of supervised probation.

He’s also required to register as a Tier 2 sex offender for the next 25 years.

Sagamore Hills Police Chief David Hayes declined to comment on the details surrounding this case.

We tried contacting the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office but haven’t heard back.