Former Florida basketball youth coach jailed for sexually abusing children in his home
Yesterday, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO,) headquartered in Ocala, Florida, via the agency’s Major Crimes Detective Henrik Osthed, announced the arrest of 58-year-old Carl Philip Lombardo, a trusted youth basketball coach, on charges of for 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.
Background: On August 31, 2024, MCSO deputies responded to a report that Lombardo refused to return a 15-year-old juvenile victim to his parents after a sleepover at his home, located at 2 Spring Lake Place, in Ocala. Deputies were advised that Lombardo returned the juvenile’s siblings to their parents earlier in the day. When confronted about withholding the 15-year-old victim, he sent a video of the victim pretending to write a note to his parents requesting to stay with him.
However, it was discovered that Lombardo coerced the victim to film the video, and it was clear that the child was emotional as Lombardo belittled him for hesitating. The children’s parents advised they were going to contact law enforcement because he was withholding their child, Lombardo stated he was not concerned because he works with the schools and his reputation is spotless.
At the conclusion of the Sheriff’s Office initial investigation, the child was returned to his parents. Shortly afterward, several of the children attending the sleepover at the coach’s home disclosed that Lombardo had touched them inappropriately and taken nude photos of them. Lombardo provided two of his cell phones for forensic review, which revealed he had taken photos depicting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) of a young child. His phones also contained numerous images of the suspect cuddling with the children and pictures of their feet.
Throughout Osthed’s investigation, the MCSO Detective 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. As a honed predator, 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.
On September 18, 2024, Lombardo was interviewed by Detective Osthed. During the interview, he provided contradictory statements about why the juveniles would disclose sexual abuse, the presence of CSAM on his phones, and his claims that he was trying to “save” the children from abuse.
Lombardo also admitted that he offered the children’s parents $5,000 each to keep them. Lombardo also confirmed that the images of CSAM on his phone depicted one of the juvenile victims.
Based on the multiple disclosures of molestation, the evidence collected from his cell phones, and the coercion of the child victims through gifts, isolation, and threats, Lombardo was placed under arrest and transported to the Marion County Jail, where he remains without bond.
The charges filed against him bear repeating:
- 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,
- Production of Child Pornography (two counts) and
- Possession of Child Pornography (two counts)
Due to the nature of these crimes, Lombardo’s former position as a children’s basketball coach, and his obvious predatory nature using elements of isolation and control, detectives believe he may have victimized other children.
Anyone with information about other potential victims is encouraged to contact Detective Osthed at (352) 351-4710.
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(Source and mugshot: MCSO)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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