A Pasco County man who helps run a popular zoo is facing sexual misconduct charges involving children.
Randy Stearns calls himself “The Tiger Man.”
He is listed on the web as President and Head Trainer for Dade City’s Wild Things.
But now the Tampa native is facing disturbing charges in St. Charles County, Missouri.
According to a grand jury indictment, Stearns exposed himself to three girls under the age of 15 on June 25th, 2016.
The indictment filed in September lists eight counts of sexual misconduct alleged to have happened at the Embassy Suites hotel where Stearns was staying for a convention.
It says Stearns exposed himself as the girls got off the elevator and headed towards their room.
According to investigators, the victims went back in the hallway 10 minutes later and Stearns was still there with his penis exposed through the zipper of his jeans.
The victims say he tired to get closer to them and kept talking to them.
During the investigation, it was reported Stearns exposed himself in his room to someone only identified by initials. This incident allegedly happened earlier in the evening.
Stearns has been in the public eye in recent years as Dade City Wild Things made headlines for its close encounter attraction with baby tigers.
That includes the controversial practice of swimming with them.
The US Department of Agriculture eventually fined Wild Things for its treatment of the tigers and and ordered them to stop letting people swim with them.
Stearns attorney said his client denies the allegations and will fight them in court.
We left a message with Randy Stearns mother, the owner of Wild Things, but haven’t heard back.
