A Riverview man is behind bars after a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office investigation concluded he groomed and sexually abused a 15‑year‑old over roughly three years, according to authorities. Karl Slazinski, 41, faces multiple felony counts, including use of a child in a sexual performance and lewd or lascivious battery. Deputies say the probe opened on May 7, detectives secured a warrant before the Saturday arrest, and the investigation is still active.
Arrest and charges
Deputies arrested Slazinski on Saturday after detectives obtained a warrant the previous day, according to reporting by Tampa Free Press. Investigators say the case centers on communications that began around May 2023 and allege Slazinski met the 15‑year‑old multiple times in Hillsborough County over a period of about three years. He now faces counts of use of a child in a sexual performance, lewd or lascivious battery, traveling to meet a minor after using computer services to solicit illegal acts, transmission of harmful material to a minor, and unlawful use of a two‑way communications device, according to the sheriff’s office.
Sheriff's statement and county enforcement
"This adult exploited and manipulated a child for years, using communication and calculated grooming to commit these horrific crimes," Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement reported by Tampa Free Press. The arrest comes as the sheriff’s Internet Predator Unit and Human Trafficking Section have been ramping up undercover operations. A department press release earlier this year said a multi‑week sting produced 89 arrests and more than 1,200 felony counts, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
What the charges mean under Florida law
Several of the counts named by investigators fall under specific Florida statutes. Lewd or lascivious battery is defined in Florida Statutes § 800.04, and the use of a child in a sexual performance is addressed in § 827.071. Online solicitation and traveling to meet a minor after using computer services are criminalized under Florida Statutes § 847.0135, and unlawful use of a two‑way communications device is covered in § 934.215.
Next steps
Slazinski remains in custody as the case moves through the local system. The charges are allegations, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and that detectives are continuing to gather evidence. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office public affairs or the non‑emergency line at (813) 247‑8200, per the department’s press release (HCSO).
