LALA restaurant and bar owner accused of having child pornography
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The owner of LALA in St. Petersburg and Tampa has been arrested on child porn charges.
What we know:
According to the St. Petersburg Police Department, after receiving a tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program, detectives arrested Lucas Jose Herraiz on 18 counts of possession of child pornography Wednesday morning.
Detectives said they served a search warrant on Herraiz's home and business, seizing two electronic devices from his residence.
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Courtesy: Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
Investigators said Herraiz had downloaded multiple videos of child sexual abuse material.
Dig deeper:
According to a warrant, in September, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children got a tip from DropBox about Herraiz’s account. Investigators found IP addresses that came back to him and another was registered to LALA on Central Avenue in St. Pete.
The search warrant executed on his DropBox account found 41 files, all videos, investigators say, involving child sex abuse materials that range from one minute to nearly 36 minutes long.
Herraiz appeared in court on Thursday morning, where a judge set his bond at $180,000 — $10,000 for each count. He is also required to wear a GPS monitor and won’t be able to leave Pinellas County.
Herraiz told the court on Thursday that police seized his passport when he was arrested. It’s a French passport, he said, which is where he’s originally from.
Herraiz told the court he doesn’t have any other passports. His attorney, Blair Jackson, asked him several questions in a "brief testimony" in court, including asking about where he lives, the restaurant and more.
Herraiz told the court he and his wife manage LALA, including doing the payroll. He said he and his wife have been married for 10 years and have two children who are five and almost nine years old, who he lives with. Jackson clarified if there would be any pre-trial release conditions regarding them.
"Are there any issues regarding him living with minor children," Jackson asked the judge.
"The minor children are not the subject of the warrant, so, I mean, certainly that's a concern, but that's ... DCF and other protective agencies should look into that issue," Judge Chris M. LaBruzzo said. "My issue is that the children are not the subject [of the warrant], so $180,000 bond and GPS monitor," he said.
FOX 13 called the Department of Children and Families on Thursday regarding the case and didn’t hear back at the time this article was published.
Herraiz’s wife was in the courtroom Thursday watching closely.
"Do you also understand that if you violate any of the conditions set by the court as conditions of your pre-trial release, you'll likely be back in jail until the case is resolved in some fashion," Jackson asked Herraiz in court.
"Yes, absolutely," Herraiz replied.
Jackson told FOX 13 after the hearing they’re pleased with the judge’s decision to give him bond and the terms of the release. FOX 13 asked Herraiz’s wife for a comment. She looked to the attorney, who said she had no comment.
What they're saying:
According to state business records, Herraiz is the owner of LALA in Tampa and St. Petersburg, a restaurant and bar that also features karaoke rooms.
FOX 13 reached out to both locations.
The Tampa location said in a statement, "The public filing reflects historical ownership records. He is no longer involved in day-to-day operations, is not permitted on the premises, and we are working with legal counsel to remove any remaining affiliation and ownership in accordance with the law."
In a statement to FOX 13, LALA St. Pete shared, "We are aware of recent news involving an individual associated with Lala St. Pete. This information was unknown to the remaining ownership and has been as shocking to us as it has been to the public. Effective immediately, the individual has been removed from all on-site presence and from any involvement in the operations or management of Lala St. Pete. The business continues to operate independently under its remaining ownership. Lala St. Pete is a multi-member company. None of the remaining owners had any prior knowledge of or involvement in the alleged conduct. The company is working with legal counsel to address this matter appropriately and in accordance with applicable law. The safety, well-being, and respect of our staff, guests, and community remain our highest priorities. Out of respect for the legal process and all those affected, we will not be commenting further at this time."
Grand Central Brewhouse in St. Pete said in a statement on social media that LALA operates as a tenant under the same property owner as them. Here's the full statement:
"The recent news with regard to one of the members of LaLa’s ownership is devastating for everyone involved. For clarity, LaLa operates as a tenant under the same property owner as Grand Central Brewhouse; however, GCB has no affiliation with, ownership of, or connection to LaLa St. Pete or its ownership.
While we recognize that LaLa’s staff are not responsible for the situation, we have chosen to pause any business interactions at this time. Our focus remains on our team, our guests, and providing a safe, welcoming environment for our community.
Out of respect for those involved and the legal process, we will not be making further statements at this time."
What's next:
As of Thursday evening, Herraiz had not been released from jail. His next court date is scheduled for February.
The Source: This article was written with information found in a press release provided by the St. Petersburg Police Department, court records and statements from both LALA locations.