TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The owner of popular Ybor City nightclub Southern Nights and his partner, a teacher, were accused of transmitting child pornography and conspiring to solicit a minor for sex acts.

Richard “Rick” Kowalczyk and Eric Patrick were arrested earlier this month, according to federal court documents.

Kowalczyk is the owner of the Southern Nights nightclub, which has locations in both Tampa and Orlando. Patrick works as a teacher.

Law enforcement began investigating Kowalczyk after discovering an explicit conversation on Telegram between Kowalczyk and a person they were already investigating. The exchange included both participants sharing child pornography and graphic descriptions of child sexual abuse involving children as young as 7 years old, according to court documents.

In November 2019 and March 2021, Kowalczyk and Patrick texted each other about “their desire to have sexual relations with teenage boys,” “their desire to find new teenage boys with whom to have sexual relations,” and detailed alleged encounters they had with minors, according to an indictment. They exchanged photos of people they matched with on Grindr, some of which were believed to be under the age of 18.

The men were also accused of planning a trip to Key West in June 2020 for the purpose of meeting young boys and discussing their plans over text.

The indictment stated that Patrick sent sexual images of a 15-year-old to Kowalczyk on multiple occasions between July 2020 and February 2021 and “expressed their continued desire to meet with (the victim) for sex.”

In February 2023, federal agents seized multiple phones and a laptop belonging to Kowalczyk, where a search revealed both men “engaged in child exploitation,” court documents stated. Kowalczyk admitted to having child pornography on his devices.

“They both very clearly engaged in predatory deviant sexual behavior towards minors. Their behavior went on for years, demonstrating their acts as intentional,” court documents stated. “Patrick works as a teacher, a career that provides him access to minors. Accordingly, they pose an extreme danger to minors in society and their release from custody would be in direct conflict with maintaining community safety.”

Kowalczyk and Patrick were arrested on January 2 and have since been released. They were both charged with conspiracy and attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Patrick was charged with distribution of child pornography. Kowalczyk was charged with receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography.

“The nature and circumstances of the offenses charged are extremely serious,” court documents stated.

As a condition of their release, they are forbidden from having contact with minors, aside from their daughter.