The owner of Tampa’s popular Southern Nights LGBTQ+ bar has been indicted on charges related to child pornography and attempted child sexual abuse, according to court records.

Richard Kowalczyk and his domestic partner, Eric Patrick, were arrested Jan. 2 after a federal grand jury indicted the pair in December on charges of conspiracy and attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Kowalczyk was also charged with two counts of receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography, while Patrick was charged with a count of distribution of child pornography, according to the indictment.

Kowalcyzk also owns District Dive, Stiffy’s and a second Southern Nights bar in Orlando. His attorney, Fritz Scheller, told the Orlando Sentinel on Monday that the establishments would remain open, but said Kowalczyk would step away from the businesses to focus on his defense.

“Mr. Kowalzcyk maintains his innocence and will continue to do so. I, as well as my co-counsel ... believe that our legal system will ultimately vindicate our client.”

The investigation into the couple began in January 2023, when law enforcement officers investigating an unnamed suspect discovered messages between the suspect and Kowalczyk on the Telegram messaging service where child sexual abuse material was discussed in graphic terms, court records claim. Both parties in that 2022 conversation said they had sexual encounters with minors in the past, and the suspect allegedly sent Kowalczyk several videos of child pornography.

One of the accounts listed Kowalcyzk’s phone number. Investigators were eventually able to confirm Kowalcyzk’s identity through Cash App payments between him and the suspect, court documents say. The Orlando home he shares with Patrick was subsequently raided, and his and Patrick’s electronic devices were seized in February 2023, according to court records.

Evidence was found on the devices that showed both engaged in child exploitation, and Kowalcyzk told law enforcement in an interview that he had received child pornography, the documents say. Kowalcyzk’s iPhone contained 83 images and two videos of child exploitation, including of minors less than 12 years old, according to a court motion seeking pretrial detention for Kowalcyzk.

Messages between Kowalcyzk and Patrick show the two discussing their desire to have sex with minors, and details their planning for a trip to Key West in 2020 to find minors. The investigation by law enforcement found that the two met a minor through the dating app Grindr during the trip. Both obtained child sexual abuse material from him and shared it with each other, the motion said.

Kowalcyzk also instructed Patrick in how to entice the minor into sex, and Patrick followed his instructions, the documents claim.

Court records mention Patrick worked as a teacher into 2024.