Investigators are searching for additional victims in a Central Florida child molestation case.
On February 24, 2023, detectives responded to a residence in Hillsborough County regarding an adult male possibly molesting a 12-year-old child.
On March 7, 2023, detectives with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Special Victim’s Unit served a search warrant at the home and located numerous electronic storage devices containing items of evidential value.
After a thorough investigation, charges were filed with the State Attorney’s Office on September 11, 2024.
According to local law enforcement, 41-year-old Pablo Rios Hernandez was arrested the same day and is facing the following charges:
- Sexual Battery Familiar or Custodial Authority
- Lewd or Lascivious Molestation Defendant over 18 Victims 12-15 (x4)
- Sell or Distribute Obscene Material to a Minor
- Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device
Rios Hernandez was a former youth group leader at First Baptist Church of Riverview, near Tampa, from August 2021 to February 2022. Detectives are asking anyone who may be a victim of Rios Hernandez to contact our investigators at 813-247-8200.
“I am appalled and disgusted by the actions of this individual who preyed upon a child. There is no place in our community for these types of evil actions,” said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister. “To anyone who may have suffered in silence at the hands of this predator, I urge you to come forward and speak with our detectives.”
Rios Hernandez is a former HCSO deputy who worked from 2006 to 2019. During his employment, his IA history included several traffic crash incidents and a failure to respond to a subpoena.
