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TAMPA, FL -- This morning, a Hillsborough County judge refused to grant bond to
Alex Pala. Tampa Police arrested him yesterday at a motel.
They had received a tip that Pala was trying to arrange a meeting with a young boy to have sex with him. Detectives monitored four hours of phone conversations that they say went into specific detail about Pala's plans.
According to a police statement, "...the suspect described in illicit detail what he wanted to do with the child. He said that he wanted to pay the child money for each sex act. During the phone conversations, he said that if the boy did what he wanted, he would let him live in one of his houses and pay him up to several thousand dollars a month. Officers set up a meeting with the suspect at the Days Inn. They told him they would deliver a 14-year-old boy."
Officers confronted Pala around 10 p.m. Sunday at the Days Inn on Dale Mabry Highway. They say Pala had nearly $5,000 and hydrocodone pills at the time of the meeting.
Investigators say Pala admitted this wasn't the first time commiting such acts with a child. He also allegedly told them he has children living in homes he owns in Florida.
Today, the State Attorney told the judge she was worried for the safety of the children that Pala claims live in his homes. Investigators say Pala refused to tell them where those homes are, and they are having a hard time finding the homes, because Pala goes by other aliases.
The State Attorney also told the judge she considers Pala a flight risk because he lives in Illinois half of the year, and Florida the other half.
Because of his statements, Detectives are concerned there may be other victims. Anyone with information that may help the Tampa Police is asked to call Crime Stoppers at Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477) or report online at www.crimestopperstb.com
