Florida Psychiatrist William Hervey Charged with 20 Counts of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

July 8, 2026

Florida psychiatrist William Hervey, 61, who owns a Clearwater-area mental health practice, has been arrested after investigators alleged he possessed child sexual abuse material linked to a documented Russian child exploitation series. The investigation began after detectives received information that illicit files were being accessed and shared online, ultimately identifying Hervey as the suspect. Authorities say Hervey owned the Advantage Mental Health Center in Clearwater at the time of his arrest.

According to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, detectives executed a search warrant at Hervey's home and seized multiple electronic devices for forensic examination. He was initially charged with two counts of possession of child pornography, and later that day investigators filed 18 additional counts after allegedly discovering more illicit images and videos on one of the seized devices. Detectives said some of the material depicted children as young as four years old, while other files were identified through the Child Victim Identification Program as belonging to a known Russian child exploitation series. These allegations have not been proven in court, and Hervey is presumed innocent unless convicted.

Investigators have not said whether any patient records, office computers, or business networks were involved, and the forensic examination of the seized electronics remains

Source: "Clearwater psychiatrist accused of having images from documented Russian child pornography series," WTVT Fox 13, June 30, 2026.