Creepy Coach in Florida Offered Parents $5K To ‘Buy Children’ – so He Could Exploit Them
Carl Philip Lombardo, a youth basketball coach in Florida, used his position within the community to exploit children. 🌐 #News #OcalaFL #Florida #Crime
OCALA, FL – Carl Philip Lombardo was responsible for teaching your children fundamental sports skills, fostering teamwork, and building confidence. For a Florida community in Marion County, he was tasked to serve as a mentor, guiding kids in areas like discipline, perseverance, and handling challenges, while also creating a safe environment where they could grow both physically and emotionally. Rather than doing this, he used his trusted position and beloved reputation to hide his true nature: a pervert, hell-bent on destroying the lives of innocent children.
Investigation Launched
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation on August 31 after two parents reported that 58-year-old Carl Philip Lombardo, a youth basketball coach at the local Boys and Girls Club, had refused to return their 15-year-old son following a sleepover at his home. While Lombardo sent their other children back, he allegedly insisted that the teenager wanted to remain with him.
Lombardo even provided a video of the teen “pretending to write a note to his parents requesting to stay with him,” according to law enforcement. However, investigators found that Lombardo had coerced the child into filming the video, pressuring him to go along with the charade. “It was clear that the child was emotional as Lombardo belittled him for hesitating,” the sheriff’s office stated.
Lombardo Thought Schools Would ‘Protect’ Him
When the worried parents threatened to contact the police, Lombardo allegedly shrugged it off, saying his standing as a coach and his connections with schools would protect him from any consequences.
The investigation escalated when the 15-year-old returned home and revealed disturbing details about his time with the coach. Other children who had spent time with Lombardo also came forward, accusing him of inappropriate behavior, including unwanted touching and the taking of nude photos.
Forensic analysis of two of Lombardo’s cell phones revealed incriminating evidence. Authorities allegedly found images of child sexual abuse material along with numerous photos of Lombardo inappropriately interacting with children, including images focused on their feet.
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Used Coaching Position To Build Trust
Detectives believe Lombardo used his coaching position to build trust with parents and gain unfettered access to children. “He developed a pattern of keeping the children at his home for multiple-day stays, during which he molested two of the juvenile victims, exposed himself to the children, and photographed them inappropriately,” the sheriff’s office explained.
During a September 18 interview with Detective Henrik Osthed, Lombardo allegedly gave conflicting statements about the presence of illicit material on his phones and why the children would accuse him of abuse. In a troubling twist, he claimed he was trying to “save” the children and admitted to offering their parents $5,000 each to “keep them.”
Yup, you read that right. He offered parents $5,000 to keep their children under his care for abusive purposes.
Lombardo Arrested – but Cops Still Need Your Help!
Lombardo has since been arrested and faces a string of charges: human trafficking of a child for commercial sexual activity, interference with child custody, lewd or lascivious molestation of a victim less than 12 years of age, lewd or lascivious molestation of a victim between 12 and 16 years of age, lewd and lascivious exhibition, and two counts each of production of child pornography and possession of child pornography.
Due to the nature of his position and the predatory tactics he allegedly employed, investigators fear there could be additional victims. They are urging anyone with information about Lombardo or other potential cases to contact Detective Osthed at 352-351-4710.
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