Accusations have been made against Fredrick Piccolo Jr, a former spokesperson for Governor Ron DeSantis, alleging that he engaged in inappropriate behavior by getting completely undressed in fitting rooms and exposing his private parts to retail workers.
Recently, Piccolo faced additional charges after allegedly stopping a woman under the guise of asking for directions but then proceeding to expose himself in a disturbing manner, prosecutors reported.
According to a statement, the woman recounted an incident on March 28 when she approached Piccolo’s vehicle to provide assistance and was shocked to find him naked and displaying his genitals in an erect state.
After he was cuffed, Piccolo appeared at a hearing in a wheelchair, and the court heard of four separate instances where he allegedly touched himself in front of strangers.
Three of the sick acts occurred at different stores in the University Town Center Mall in Sarasota, Florida, from August 22 to September 4, according to arrest warrants.
Employees at Banana Republic and Dillard’s claimed that the former political figure would call workers into the changing room and surprise them while he touched himself, Nexstar affiliate WFLA reported.
He was arrested and charged over those alleged acts, but he pleaded not guilty and was awaiting trial when the latest incident happened.
Piccolo was the director of communications for DeSantis’ office from August 2020 to December 2020, but he resigned after sharing a heartless social media posts about Covid-19.
At the time, he made a bizarre post on X where he said that for every picture shared of someone who died from the virus, there should be 99 other pictures of people who survived the sickness.
When approached for comment, DeSantis’ office stressed that Piccolo hadn’t worked at his office for years when he was first arrested, they told The U.S. Sun.
At the time of his first arrest, Piccolo was working as the director of marketing and media at New College of Florida, but the school has since said he is no longer an employee, WFLA reported.
The accused criminal’s family has broken their silence on the arrest, and claimed that his impulsive behavior is the result of medication for his early-onset Parkinson’s disease.
In a statement, his dad Fred Piccolo said, “While our family is deeply saddened and surprised by the accusations contained in the arrest reports, our son Fred Jr. was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease about ten years ago.
“As the disease has progressed, he has had various and increasing medications for the affliction.
“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.”
Fred said he was “very sorry” to the alleged victims and vowed to get his son the medical and mental health services he needed.
‘THIS IS DISTURBING’
Andrew Warren, a state attorney who was ousted by DeSantis after the governor accused him of being soft on crime, has blasted leadership following the arrest.
Warren claimed that Piccolo also had experience working for the Florida House Speaker and was once brought into the state attorney’s office.
“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,” Warren told WFLA.
“Getting arrested for indecent exposure not once, but four times, speaks for itself,” he said.
“Why had this man been in the governor’s inner circle?”
Piccolo is facing four charges of exposure of sexual organs.
He’s pleaded not guilty to each charge.
