Bad Bad Teacher

(11/24/08 – Initial BadBadTeacher.com Report)

Roberto Caragol, 35, a former assistant swim coach at Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida has been arrested and charged in federal court with possessing child pornography.

Reportedly court records indicated that investigators confronted Caragol in October after receiving information that his e-mail address was used to transmit four pornographic images of young boys.

In October, Caragol denied the allegations and voluntarily turned over his laptop computer to investigators.

According to the federal complaint, a search of Caragol’s laptop computer uncovered approximately 40 illicit images.

It is alleged that in an interview with an FBI special agent last week that Caragol admitted he had sent, received or possessed at least a couple of hundred images of young boys.

It is further alleged that Caragol told the FBI special agent that he was not presently engaging in sex with minors, but had previously had sexual contact with children younger than 18, with those acts dating back to 2001.

Law enforcement officials are urging parents and students with information about improper sexual contact by the Roberto Caragol to come forward.

Caragol was initially suspended and then subsequently fired by the school.

Caragol made his initial appearance in Miami federal court Wednesday afternoon and was ordered to remain in custody. A bail hearing is set for today.

03/05/09 – Guilty Plea

Roberto Caragol has pleaded guilty to transmitting child pornography.

Federal prosecutors said that Caragol admitted to sexual encounters with five underage boys whom he coached and that he had an ongoing sexual relationship with an underage female he met at a swimming-related event.

Caragol faces up to 20 years in prison at sentencing on the child pornography counts.

Reportedly an investigation is ongoing in regard to the alleged admissions of sexual abuse of minors.

06/22/09 – Sentencing

Roberto Caragol has reportedly been sentenced to 151 months in prison.

Federal prosecutors said Caragol also admitted to sexual encounters with six underage boys, including five he coached at the time. In addition, Caragol told investigators he had sex with an underage girl he met at a swimming-related event, according to court records.

This entry was posted on Monday, June 22nd, 2009 at 10:30 am and is filed under Coaches, Florida, Hall of Shame, High Schools, ME-CP, ME-FV, ME-MV. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.