A St. Petersburg man has been arrested and charged with engaging in sexual activity involving animals following a cyber tip pertaining to his purchase of illicit videos, according to local police officials. The individual identified as Cristian Sengaroun, 21, allegedly used his digital bank account to beget these transactions. A search of his personal cell phone uncovered 10 videos that resulted in detectives charging him with 10 counts of sexual activity involving animals.
The arrest report comes just weeks after Sengaroun was employed as a seasonal part-time worker at the City of St. Petersburg Walter Fuller Recreation Center, a place frequented by families and children. The St. Petersburg Police Department indicated that Sengaroun had passed a Level 2 background check as mandated by Chapter 435 of the Florida Statutes—an effort to thoroughly vet childcare workers. Despite this precaution, his recent hiring did nothing to predict or present to prevent his alleged engagement in unlawful acts.
In a statement outlining the arrest, the police confirmed that "there is no indication that any participants at the center were involved or affected." Sengaroun’s employment was quickly terminated following the arrest, underscoring the city's zero-tolerance stance on behavior that poses a risk to community standards and safety, as per St. Petersburg Police Department.
The full details surrounding the case and additional information regarding the cyber tip can be found on the St. Petersburg Police Department's official website. The investigation remains to be ongoing with the police not ruling out the possibility of additional charges as they continue to explore deeply into the matter. Sengaroun remains in custody, and any upcoming legal proceedings will test both the evidence at hand and the fortitude of a community shaken by such disturbing allegations.
