CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. – A Citrus County man has been arrested on multiple charges of lewd and lascivious exhibition after allegedly exposing himself to children on a school bus.
36-year-old Freddy Richie Parisi of Crystal River was taken into custody on Thursday, January 16th, following a swift investigation by the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO).
The investigation began on Tuesday, January 14th, when several students reported to their parents that they had witnessed a man in a car next to their school bus exposing himself.
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One of the students submitted an anonymous tip through FortifyFL, a school safety reporting app, which included videos of the incident and the suspect’s vehicle, including the license plate number.
The parents immediately contacted the CCSO, and deputies responded to initiate an investigation. Detectives, working in collaboration with the Citrus County School District, were able to quickly identify Parisi based on the FortifyFL tip and information from witnesses.
Parisi was arrested and charged with five counts of lewd and lascivious exhibition. He is currently being held at the Citrus County Detention Facility without bond.
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Citrus County School District Chief of Police Rachel Montgomery commended the students involved for reporting the incident, emphasizing the importance of speaking up when witnessing something concerning.
“The student’s exemplary use of FortifyFL and the parent’s follow-up reporting allowed the Sheriff’s Office to quickly identify and apprehend this offender, making our community safer for students moving forward,” she said.
Parisi was convicted in 2007 for sexual battery of a victim under 12 years of age and lewd or lascivious conduct with a victim under 16 years old.
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