This afternoon, Eric William Cansler, 40, of Port Charlotte, was adjudicated guilty and sentenced to a total of 50 years in prison for his crimes involving children, in two cases. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison for one count of Sexual Activity with a Child in a 2019 case. He was also sentenced to 5 years in prison for each of the 10 counts of Possession of Child Pornography he was charged with in a 2020 case. The prison time is to be served consecutively.
As part of his sentence, the defendant is also now designated a Sexual Predator. He must provide a DNA sample to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and pay court costs.
In the first case, a child told her mother about Cansler touching her in an inappropriate and sexual manner. Her mother then contacted the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, after confronting the defendant, asking him to seek help.
The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation. During a search of the defendant’s home, a Go Pro Camera, SD cards, and thumb drives, were found in a camera bag in the garage. Numerous photographs and videos depicting child pornography were found on the electronic devices. Some of the evidence depicted the defendant participating. Cansler was then arrested.
Assistant State Attorney Jennifer Garczewski and Assistant State Attorney Tracey Detzel prosecuted the case.
Samantha Syoen – Communications Director, State Attorney’s Office