SEMINOLE, Fla. — A Pinellas County man facing life in prison for child porn charges is walking away free after Judge William Burgess dropped the charges because a deputy lied to get evidence.
James Rybicki, 63, has been out on bail wearing an ankle monitor since 2016. Judge Burgess says detectives did not have enough reason to search his home for evidence.
On Nov. 22, Judge Burgess decided to push back a decision until December 6, allowing the state attorney's office to work on the case for an additional two weeks. The State Attorney's Office said they did not plan to appeal the judge's decision to suppress evidence.
PREVIOUSLY REPORTED:
- Accused child molester could walk free if Pinellas County judge throws out evidence
- Man accused of taking sexually explicit photos of young girl arrested just hours after bonding out
- Seminole man arrested for taking sexually explicit photos of girl under 12
However, paperwork filed by the State Attorney's Office on Tuesday shows that the charges are officially dropped.
James Rybicki Nolle Pros by wftsweb on Scribd
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Spelled out over 23 pages, Judge Burgess' order says “false statements” made in “bad faith” by Deputy Michael Alverez could allow an accused child molester to walk.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri says flat out, his former deputy lied to get inside Rybicki’s Seminole home back in 2016 using a different charge to get a judge to sign a search warrant.
“To me it’s very clear. He lied. He committed perjury,” Gualtieri said. “It’s wrong. If he was here in Pinellas County today, I would arrest him and put him in jail but he’s not. He doesn’t work here anymore and hasn’t since 2017.”
Evidence, photos and videos showing Rybicki allegedly molesting a young girl and a 10-year-old modeling a swimsuit in his home will be tossed out. Rybicki’s attorney says the search was a clear violation of his client’s rights.
“You can’t on a ruse figure out a way to get into someone’s house on a hunch you think there’s something in there. That’s just not right,” said Lucas Fleming, Rybicki's attorney.
Judge Burgess says while Rybicki’s alleged actions are “morally unworthy of a windfall exoneration,” he has no choice but to recommend dropping the charges.
Sheriff Gualtieri agrees, yet worries, about the long-ranging potential impacts.
“I hope he gets the help he needs and he doesn’t do these bad acts and exploit these children. It would really really be sad,” Gualtieri said.
Rybicki was originally charged with child porn, video voyeurism and lewd and lascivious molestation.
