BARTOW | Jurors got a lesson in computer forensics Wednesday as prosecutors outlined their case against a man accused of having a sexual relationship with a juvenile relative.

Lakeland resident Gary Whitmore, 41, has been charged with various computer crimes involving pictures and obscene chat with the teenager. Jurors were told that he was picked up by Lakeland police on Jan. 19, 2006, when he went to meet the girl so that he could take her to a nearby motel to have sex with her. 

Several days later, Whitmore’s father voluntarily gave police his personal computer, which Whitmore also used, Lakeland police Sgt. Robert Gardner testified.

Then Gardner told jurors how police investigate computer crimes. Many people who are being investigated by the police will voluntarily turn in their computers because they think that they’ve deleted all the files on the computer’s hard drive. However, it is much harder to erase files then people think, Gardner said.

Someone had attempted to erase numerous files and photographs on the computer used by Whitmore several hours before it was given to police, he said, but Lakeland police were able to locate almost all of the files and pictures that were erased.

Lakeland police were able to recover, among other things, nude pictures of the girl, Gardner said.

Jurors have been told the girl has made conflicting statements to police and hasn’t cooperated with Polk prosecutors.

Gardner testified about evidence recovered through the use of computer spyware installed to track the girl’s computer use. Her mother had been alerted that the FBI was investigating Whitmore for allegations of sexual abuse of the girl, and the mother suspected that she was still in contact with Whitmore. The mother bought spyware and put it on a computer that the girl used.

Gardner said the spyware recorded every keystroke on the computer, including instant message chats between the girl and a person whose e-mail account was registered to Whitmore.

The girl’s mother testified Wednesday that when she read the chats it was clear that her daughter was talking to Whitmore. She said her daughter addressed Whitmore by name, mentioned his wife, talked about the time she spent with Whitmore and his wife in El Paso, Texas, and discussed other family matters.

Source: theledger.com