LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL — A Lakeland man was arrested at Disney World after detectives said he sent explicit images and videos to an undercover detective posing as a 13-year-old boy on Snapchat.
According to an Orange County Sheriff’s Office, an undercover deputy was operating a Snapchat account in August 2026 when a user identified as “madmax17245” made contact. The user identified himself as a 37-year-old man in the Orlando area, while the deputy identified himself as a 13-year-old boy.
The affidavit states Michael Byrne sent an explicit image and three videos before asking the undercover deputy to send images in return. Investigators later linked the Snapchat account to Byrne.
When detectives contacted Byrne, he acknowledged the Snapchat account belonged to him but told investigators he did not know he was communicating with a 13-year-old.
Byrne was arrested at 751 Backstage Lane, an address associated with Walt Disney World’s backstage area. Byrne is not a Disney employee, and it remains unclear how he accessed the building.
Byrne was charged with solicitation of a minor via computer, transmission of harmful material to minors and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. He was transported to the Orange County Jail.
SOURCE: ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
