Sheriff: Ex-Florida weatherman accused of luring teens texted local kid
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By Roop Raj, Fox 2 News -
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (WJBK) -
He was a popular weatherman in West Palm Beach, Florida until 2006. Then Rob Lopicola, the body builder, quit and was most recently working as a dancer and bartender at a Florida club.
However, what led to him being arrested outside his home this week has to do with what investigators say he did, which all started on Craigslist, they say, on the male seeking males free section. He allegedly lured two boys two separate times -- one of them 17 and the other 15.
The year-long investigation pointed to the 15-year-old having oral sex with Lopicola in a car in Florida. The teen then moved to Farmington Hills with his uncle. That's when the Oakland County Sheriff's Department helped track down text messages between the two.
"There was follow up communication between the perpetrator and the victim, a desire to continue the relationship. A desire, even an enticement, to run away and come live with him in Florida for awhile," Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard said Tuesday.
Lopicola allegedly invited him back to Florida to have a three-way sexual meeting with him and another man.
"The perpetrator was 40 and he wanted to involve a 55 or 60-year-old with this person. It's disgusting on so many levels, but again, sadly, it's not unusual," Bouchard said.
The court documents spell out some of the messages, most too explicit to read on TV. One of them read, according to the sheriff, "I really like u! We have a big age difference, I'm a lot older, cud b yor dad. U sure u want an older boyfriend and bigger muscular guy too?" Investigators say it was sent after Lopicola discovered the teen's real age was 15.
"Lots of times a child won't report it. They're either threatened or encouraged or embarrassed or whatever the situation may be, and so they're allowed to perpetuate their victims," Bouchard said.
In this case, the Farmington Hills teen allegedly kept it quiet for months.
Lopicola wrote after leaving the TV station in 2006 he wanted to move into other aspirations, some spiritual in nature. Now he waits to face a judge in Florida on Wednesday.
Their alleged relationship ended after the teen reportedly decided that Lopicola was a danger not only to him, but he was afraid he would do other bad things to other teens, as well.
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WCS photo
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