Friday, November 21, 2008
Swim coach faces child pornography charges
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (WSVN) -- Authorities are investigating a swim coach who admitted to having child pornography and engaging in sex with minors dating back to 2001.
After receiving a criminal complaint from America Online regarding a man forwarding child pornography, Broward Sheriff's Office investigators tracked the email address of 35-year-old Robert Caragol.
Authorities questioned Caragol, and he denied any wrongdoing. They then searched the hard drive of his laptop computer after he voluntarily gave it to them and found inappropriate images of young boys.
Caragol coached swimming at the Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale. Thursday afternoon after the new charges were revealed, Caragol was fired from his assistant swim coach position. "Once we received the new charges that were published, we decided that they were serious enough that we would discontinue the employment," said Pine Crest School President, Lourdes Cowgill. "The safety of the students is the most important factor for us, and we will do everything in our power to continue to ensure that they are safe."
One parent is sickened by the ordeal. "That's just disgusting, really. It just makes your skin cringe," said Gabriel Kosicki. "I just think that's disgusting, anybody who looks at children just really, really has some problems."
Caragol also coached several South Florida boys swimming teams, such as Metro-Dade Aquatics, Plantation Swim Team and Cypress Bay High School.
The coach remains in federal custody and is set to appear in federal court on Monday for a bond hearing.
Police fear they may be other victims out there. If you have any additional information about other victims, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward.
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