PASCO COUNTY, Fla. – The Pasco Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man accused of soliciting sex with minors and performing lewd acts in the presence of young children. Sheriff Chris Nocco held a press conference this morning to detail the disturbing case and emphasize the importance of online safety for children.
The Pasco Sheriff’s Office arrested 35-year-old Juan Carlos Lugo for lewd and lascivious acts, with several additional charges pending. The arrest stemmed from a tip from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) indicating that a person in Pasco County was communicating with an undercover detective from the South Daytona Police Department who they believed to be a minor on a social media platform.
READ: St. Pete Teen’s Gruesome Murder: Kidnapped And Dismembered; One Arrested, Accomplice Wanted
During the conversation, Lugo sent videos of himself performing a sexual act in the presence of a 7 and 9-year-old and offered for the detective, who he believed to be a minor, to have a sexual encounter with the juveniles.
In partnership with the FDLE and the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office immediately began searching for the suspect, locating him on the morning of March 7th in the Shoreline Drive area of New Port Richey.
“This arrest was the clearest and quickest example of how law enforcement partnerships work in Florida,” said FDLE Tampa Bay Special Agent in Charge Mark Brutnell. “It is because of the strong relationships between state and local agencies that we can identify a predator from the east coast of Florida, and within 35 minutes, we had a plan in place and brought him to justice.”
READ: Kentucky Man Gets 30 Years For CSAM, Abusing Children In The Philippines
The suspect, Juan Lugo, allegedly engaged in sexually explicit conversations with an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old girl. During these conversations, Lugo expressed his desire to engage in sexual acts with the “girl” and even suggested involving two young children who were in his care.
Lugo was babysitting his girlfriend’s children, ages 7 and 9, while she was in jail on drug charges. He reportedly sent pictures of the children to the undercover detective and made explicit comments about them.
Sheriff Nocco expressed deep concern about the case, emphasizing the dangers children face online and the need for parents to be vigilant.
“This guy is a demon,” Nocco said. “This guy will do bad things, has done bad things around kids. Please, if anybody has any information, if your kids were around him and they’re making statements, anybody who was near this guy, please call 1-800-706-2488. That’s the Pasco Sheriff’s Office tip line.”
READ :Border Czar Tom Homan Slams Mayorkas As Liar ‘From Day One’ On Border Crisis
Nocco also stressed the importance of educating children about online safety and the potential dangers of interacting with strangers online.
The victims are safe and receiving the necessary resources. No additional information is available about the children, as Marsy’s Law protects their identity. The investigation remains ongoing.
There are no reports of additional victims at this time; however, if you or a loved one believe you may be a victim, contact the PSO Crime Tips Line at 1-800-706-2488.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
