Hillsborough County deputies say an Easter Sunday visit to a Tampa home ended with a serious criminal charge for a registered sexual predator.
On April 14, 2026, deputies reported that 46‑year‑old Keith Leroy Cole had inappropriate physical contact with a 13‑year‑old while visiting a Tampa residence on Easter Sunday. Cole was arrested and charged with lewd or lascivious molestation, according to law‑enforcement officials.
In a post on X, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said Cole was taken into custody following the April 14 response and charged with “Lewd or Lascivious Molestation.” The office identified the victim as 13 and said investigators are still actively working the case, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
State records list Cole as a registered sexual predator, a status that requires ongoing registration with law enforcement in Florida. That designation appears in the statewide database maintained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which tracks offenders and predators by name and county.
What deputies say
According to investigators, the alleged contact occurred while Cole was visiting the residence on Easter. Deputies say they developed probable cause during their April 14 investigation and moved to arrest him.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister, quoted in the agency’s post on X, said “this predator took advantage of a child's trust, and that will not be tolerated in our community,” underscoring how seriously the sheriff’s office is treating the allegation, per the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
Legal context
Lewd or lascivious molestation is defined under Florida law and, when the alleged victim is 12 to 15 years old and the defendant is 18 or older, is commonly charged as a second‑degree felony. The specific legal elements and potential penalties are detailed in state law, as outlined by the Florida Legislature, which also describes heightened penalties for repeat offenders or other aggravating factors.
What happens next
Booking and bond details were not included in the initial social media post. From here, the case will move through the county court system and be reviewed by prosecutors in the 13th Judicial Circuit.
As filings occur, court calendars and case documents with the Hillsborough County Clerk of the Circuit Court will show upcoming hearings and any formal charges as the case proceeds.
Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office tip line or submit details through official reporting channels.
As with any criminal case, the allegation is a charge at this stage, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
