Man reports his own dad to police after finding disturbing photos on his phone
Florida man discovered troubling images on his father’s device and made the difficult decision to turn him in.
A Florida man reported his father to police after allegedly discovering nearly 1,000 images of child p*rnography on his phone while helping him regain access to his disabled Google account.
A respected family man with a hidden secret
For years, 63-year-old Gene Follin was seen as a devoted father and grandfather. In 2017, after suffering a heart attack and undergoing open-heart surgery, family and friends rallied around him, describing him as loyal, loving, and compassionate.
A GoFundMe campaign was launched to support his recovery, raising $2,325 out of its $5,000 goal. Supporters described him as an irreplaceable presence in their lives.
But that image of Follin was about to change dramatically.
Google flags explicit content, leading to shocking discovery
In September 2024, Follin was locked out of his Gmail account and asked his 30-year-old son, Jared, for help. Jared, a senior planner in Hillsborough County, Florida, attempted to restore the account—only to stumble upon hundreds of disturbing images.
According to an affidavit obtained by The Smoking Gun, Google had disabled Follin’s account after detecting s*xually explicit images of children uploaded to Google Photos.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children was alerted, leading to an investigation by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children task force.
Arrest and charges
On January 28, 2025, Follin was arrested and charged with possession of child p*rnography.
Authorities found 952 files containing child p*rnography and child er*tica, uploaded between March 13, 2023, and September 10, 2024. Some of the images depicted girls as young as five years old.
Follin admitted to saving the images, and he was released after posting a $100,000 bond. He now faces 20 second-degree felony charges, each carrying a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
Public reaction: A son’s painful but necessary decision
Jared has not spoken publicly about his father’s arrest, but his Facebook account** has become a platform for discussion.
In a post from July 10, 2024, where Jared reflected on his 30th birthday, social media users expressed a mix of shock, sympathy, and support.
One person wrote:
“Sad you have to deal with a sick psycho ped*phile for a father. Thankfully you turned his dirty disgusting a** in. What a horrible thing to go through.”
Others praised Jared for his difficult but necessary choice:
“Though this probably was extremely hard for you, you potentially saved the innocence of a little girl or even many. You did the right thing.”
Another added:
“You are a good man. You did the right thing, and I am proud of you.”
Choosing justice over family
Turning in a parent is a heartbreaking decision, but many believe Jared did the right thing by prioritizing the safety of innocent children.
What would you do in his position? Share your thoughts below.
