Neighbors react to the arrest of Carl Lombardo for sexual offenses involving children

OCALA, Fla. (WCJB) – Carl Lombardo, 58, lived on Spring Lake Place in the Silver Springs Shores neighborhood. He was charged with nine crimes, including child pornography.

Although few people live on this street, neighbors told TV20 that Lombardo was strange.

“You could feel the aura that emanated from him. My husband said that from day one. He seems like a creep to me,” said neighbor Vanessa Velez.

Marion County Sheriff's detectives reported that Lombardo was a youth basketball coach, but his neighbors thought he had another profession.

RELATED: Youth basketball coach charged with sex trafficking after offering to buy children for $5,000

“As far as we know, I didn't know he worked for a school or a Boys and Girls Club. He told us he was a security guard. After two months as a security guard, I don't know what happened. He's been home ever since,” Velez said.

A neighbor's video shows Lombardo being led out of his house in handcuffs. Richard Foster lives on the same street as Lombardo and tells TV20 that he sees children there from sunrise to sunset.

“We go to work at five in the morning and come home at five in the afternoon. And they're out there at five in the morning and five in the afternoon when we get home. It's just very strange, very strange,” Foster said.

Velez also mentions that the children left Lombardo's house in tears.

“The kids came out crying and then my kids asked them if they were OK. The kids just kept walking, but it was disturbing because he's not married and doesn't have any kids of his own,” Velez said.

Investigators are convinced that Lombardo may have abused more children and have announced that they will file charges against him.

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