Summarize and humanize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs in EnglishA former spokesperson for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is facing sickening sex charges after allegedly being caught in vile acts in public. Frederick Piccolo Jr., 47, was arrested Tuesday in Sarasota, Florida after allegedly exposing himself on several occasions. He was picked up on a warrant from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office following an incident where he allegedly stopped his car to ask a woman for directions before exposing himself to her. Piccolo was also accused of exposing his genitals to multiple people at department stores in the University Town Center Mall in Sarasota between August 22 and September 4 of last year, according to court records. In one alleged occasion, Piccolo was accused of touching himself inappropriately in a fitting room at a Banana Republic in front of an employee. Then on September 4, he allegedly exposed his genitals inside a Dillard’s to two sales associates, and then again outside a fitting room. Deputies said Piccolo returned to the store the next day and exposed himself again outside a fitting room. Piccolo pleaded not guilty to four counts of exposure, and his father claimed the alleged acts were the result of medication his son is taking following a diagnosis of early onset Parkinson’s disease. Frederick Piccolo Jr., 47, a former spokesperson for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, is facing sickening sex charges after allegedly being caught in vile acts in public, including allegations of exposing himself to store workers Piccolo, pictured with his wife Kristin, allegedly exposed himself to multiple department store workers over a three-week span last year Piccolo worked as DeSantis’ director of communications from August 2020 to December 2020, and had also worked under the Florida House Speaker’s office and New College in Sarasota. He resigned from the governor’s office at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic over a controversial social media post where he questioned how serious the disease was. He said in an X post: ‘I’m wondering since 99% of Covid patients survive, shouldn’t you have 99 photos of survivors for every one fatality? ‘Otherwise you’re just trying to create a narrative that is now reality.’ His arrest this week sent shockwaves through Florida politics, with Piccolo’s former employers racing to distance themselves from the former spokesperson. In a statement to NewsNation, DeSantis’ office said: ‘He hasn’t worked here in over four years.’ State Attorney Suzy Lopez, where he also worked briefly, said in a statement: ‘He was a short-term contractor with our office and that relationship ended in 2022.’ Piccolo was most recently employed at the New College of Florida, but the institution confirmed to WFLA this week that he is ‘no longer’ with the college. Piccolo worked as DeSantis’ director of communications from August 2020 to December 2020, and had also worked under the Florida House Speaker’s office and New College in Sarasota Piccolo resigned from DeSantis’ office at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic over a controversial social media post where he questioned how serious the disease was Piccolo pleaded not guilty to four counts of exposure, and his father claimed the alleged acts were the result of medication his son is taking following a diagnosis of early onset Parkinson’s diseaseFormer Florida State Attorney Andrew Warren, who was suspended by DeSantis, said the arrests cast a shadow over Piccolo’s public service. ‘This is disturbing that someone with this much proximity, this close proximity to the Governor, who’s been put in a position of authority at New College, has had these disturbing charges leveled against him,’ he said. ‘Getting arrested for indecent exposure not once, but four times, speaks for itself. ‘I think the more important questions here are: Why has this man been in the governor’s inner circle? Why was he brought into the state attorney’s office by Suzy Lopez after she was illegally appointed? Those are the questions the public deserves to answer.’ Piccolo’s father Fred Piccolo told WFLA following his son’s arrest that his alleged acts were the side effect of medication he has been taking, and said his family is ‘deeply saddened and surprised’ by the allegations. He said Piccolo was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s disease around a decade ago, and ‘as the disease has progressed, he has had various and increasing medications for the affliction.’ Piccolo’s family (seen with his wife at DeSantis’ inauguration) said they were ‘deeply saddened and surprised’ by the allegations against him ‘One of the listed side effects of the medications, particularly the dopamine agonists he is taking, is impulsive and compulsive behaviors, including gambling and hypersexuality activities,’ he said. ‘We are very sorry that any individuals were subjected to any inappropriate conduct and we will seek the medical and mental health services necessary to return him to the wonderful and caring individual we knew before this decade of medication he has endured. ‘Thank you for the opportunity to respond and we will not have any further comments as we work to heal our son.”
Keep Reading
