The owner of popular Tampa bar and LGBTQ+ hub Southern Nights has been indicted on multiple counts related to child pornography.
Richard Kowalczyk, owner of Southern Nights Orlando and Tampa, and his partner, Eric Patrick, who is a teacher, were indicted by the United States District Court Middle District of Florida, Orlando Division.
The indictment from a federal grand jury was filed Jan. 2 and charges Kowalczyck with conspiracy to entice a minor, attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, two counts of receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography. Patrick has been charged with coercion and enticement of a minor and distribution of child pornography.
“They both very clearly engaged in predatory deviant sexual behavior towards minors. Their behavior went on for years, demonstrating their acts as intentional,” court documents stated. “Patrick works as a teacher, a career that provides him access to minors. Accordingly, they pose an extreme danger to minors in society and their release from custody would be in direct conflict with maintaining community safety.”
The indictment says Kowalczyk participated in conversations on private messaging platform Telegram that go back as far as 2019. The “graphic exchanges” found on Kowalczyk’s phone during the investigation reportedly included images and videos featuring minors suspected to be as young as 7 years old.
Kowalczyk co-owns Tampa and Orlando’s Southern Nights locations, as well as District Dive and Stiffy’s in Orlando. Southern Nights has long been known for its weekly themed events, drag and burlesque shows, and for offering a safe space for LGBTQ+ community members in Tampa and Orlando’s nightlife scene, and the venues employ dozens of local workers.
Kowalczyk and Patrick were taken into custody Jan. 2, according to arrest warrants. A trial has been set for March. If they are convicted, the charges will be punishable by a minimum sentence of 10 years and maximum sentence of life in prison. The pair are maintaining innocence, says Watermark.
A version of this story was first published at our sibling paper Orlando Weekly.
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This article appears in Jan 9-15, 2025.
