Former Owner of Tampa Drag Bar Southern Nights Faces Child Porn Charges
The ex-owner of Southern Nights and his partner are charged with serious child exploitation offenses in Tampa, raising concerns in the community
Tampa, Florida, Child Pornography, Southern Nights, LGBTQ, Richard Kowalczyk, Eric Patrick
Tampa: So, there’s some really disturbing news coming out of Tampa Bay. The former owner of Southern Nights, a popular drag bar, is in some serious trouble. Richard Kowalczyk, 44, and his partner Eric Patrick, 31, are facing charges related to child sexual exploitation and child pornography. It’s shocking, to say the least.
They were arrested after federal investigators found some pretty graphic messages between them on Telegram. These messages included explicit details about sexual encounters with minors. It’s just heartbreaking to think about.
Kowalczyk is facing multiple charges, including conspiracy to entice a minor and possession of child pornography. His partner, Patrick, who’s a teacher, is also in hot water for distributing child porn. Both of them are claiming innocence, but the evidence seems pretty damning.
The investigation kicked off earlier this year when officials stumbled upon their messages. They even found child exploitation images on Kowalczyk’s phone. It’s just a nightmare scenario.
In a particularly chilling detail, the couple allegedly traveled to Key West with the intention of finding minors to exploit. They even discussed using Grindr to look for victims. It’s just sickening.
Southern Nights has released a statement saying they’re committed to being a safe space for everyone and that they have no involvement in these allegations. They’ve also mentioned that Kowalczyk has stepped down from any responsibilities at the club.
This whole situation is a stark reminder of the importance of protecting our kids. If these two are found guilty, they could face some serious time behind bars. It’s a tough situation for the community, and everyone is hoping for justice.