A former Central Florida coach was arrested on Wednesday and is facing multiple charges after refusing to return a teen to his parents following a sleepover, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies said they received reports that 58-year-old Carl Philip Lombardo was refusing to return a 15-year-old teen to his parents after a sleepover at his home in Ocala.
Deputies were told that Lombardo had returned the 15-year-old's siblings earlier that day but refused to return the 15-year-old.
When deputies confronted Lombardo about it, he sent a video of the victim pretending to write a letter to his parents requesting to stay with him.
But deputies said Lombardo coerced the teen into filming the video and showed signs of hesitation.
The victim's parents told Lombardo they were going to contact law enforcement, to which he said he was not concerned "because he works with the schools, and his reputation is spotless."
The teen was eventually returned to his parents, but deputies said multiple of the children said they were touched inappropriately by Lombardo.
In his phone, deputies found photos depicting child sexual abuse material of a young child, numerous images of him cuddling with the children, and pictures of their feet.
After further investigation, it was revealed that Lombardo used his former basketball coach position to gain children's trust and access.
Deputies said he had a pattern of keeping the children at his home for multiple-day stays and doing inappropriate things to them.
He would also coerced the child victims through gifts, isolation, and threats, according to deputies.
Deputies said Lombardo is facing:
- 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
- Two counts each of production of child pornography and possession of child pornography
Lombardo has been arrested and transported to the Marion County Jail. He remains without bond, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office.