MARION COUNTY, Fla. – A man arrested Wednesday in Marion County is accused of using his former position as a youth basketball coach to molest children during sleepovers at his home in Silver Springs Shores.
Carl Philip Lombardo, 58, is further accused of preventing one of the children from going home after a sleepover in August, offering money to the children’s parents to “keep them” and forcing the child to write a letter requesting to stay with him, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
Lombardo faces charges of human trafficking of a child for commercial sexual activity, interference with child custody, lewd or lascivious molestation of a victim less than 12 years old, lewd or lascivious molestation of a victim between 12 and 16 years old, lewd and lascivious exhibition, two counts of production of child pornography and two counts of possession of child pornography, the release states.
Deputies responded to Lombardo’s home along Spring Lake Place on Aug. 31 after being advised he had refused to release a 15-year-old to their parents. Lombardo claimed while arguing with the teen’s parents at the time — as well as while being interviewed by detectives on Wednesday — that he was trying to “save” the children from abuse, adding “he was not concerned (with the parent’s intent to call law enforcement) because he works with the schools and his reputation is spotless,” according to the release.
While the teen was still at Lombardo’s home, the 58-year-old coerced them to appear in a video showing the teen pretending to write a note to their parents, deputies said. Lombardo sent the video to the teen’s parents, the release states, adding it appeared the teen was emotional and that Lombardo was belittling them for hesitating.
Deputies responded and the teen was thus returned to their parents, at which time Lombardo provided two of his cellphones for forensic review. Several other children then disclosed that Lombardo had touched them inappropriately and had taken nude photos of them, according to the release.
Analysis of Lombardo’s cellphones revealed he had taken photos depicting child sexual abuse material, as well as numerous images showing him cuddling with the children, the release states.
Throughout (a detective’s) investigation, he determined that Lombardo used his former position as juvenile victims’ Boys and Girls Club basketball coach to build trust and gain access to the 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.
FORMER COACH ARRESTED FOR SEX OFFENSES INVOLVING CHILDREN | Marion County Sheriff's Office, Sept. 19, 2024 (ecxerpt)
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, which serves Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, and Brevard counties, issued a statement saying Lombardo was never employed or affiliated with the organization.
We are deeply saddened by the incident in Marion County and extend our heartfelt sympathies to the affected families and communities. At Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the youth we serve remains our utmost priority.
This includes performing regular background checks on all of our staff and volunteers, participating in mandatory reporting of any suspected abuse or victimization to the appropriate authorities, performing ongoing safety assessments, and more.
We remain vigilant in our commitment to creating a safe environment for all children in our care and will continue to review and strengthen our safety protocols as needed.
Lombardo was arrested after being interviewed by a detective on Wednesday, providing contradicting statements about why the victims would bring up sexual abuse and about the presence of the photos on his cellphones. The 58-year-old confirmed that the images depicted one of the victims and “that he offered the children’s parents $5,000 each to keep them,” according to the release. He was booked at the Marion County Jail where he remains held without bond, records show.
Detectives believe Lombardo may have victimized other children, according to the release. The sheriff’s office urged anyone with information about other potential victims to contact detectives at 352-351-4710.
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