Plant City man arrested for lewd and lascivious battery of a minor
For Immediate Release
July 16, 2013
PLANT CITY, Fla. – Agents from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Tampa Bay Regional Operations Center and St. Petersburg Police Department detectives arrested Joseph Gerald Mendolia, 25, of Plant City, Fla., for three counts of lewd and lascivious battery following a multi-jurisdictional investigation. Mendolia was arrested in Plant City and booked into the Pinellas County Jail.
Investigators believe that in March 2013, Mendolia travelled to St. Petersburg, Fla., and engaged in sexual activity with a minor child after posing as a female, “Amanda,” on a web chat. Mendolia was a “camp counselor” with the University of South Florida music program and is currently the director of the Plant City Community Chorus. Investigators believe other victims may be identified at a later date and their investigation continues.
If anyone has children or knows of any children who may have come in contact with Mendolia, please contact FDLE Special Agent Al Danna at (813) 878-7384 or St. Petersburg Police Detective Kenny Sharp at (727) 893-4297.
The investigation will be prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney, 6th Judicial Circuit.
For Further Information Contact:
Gretl Plessinger, Linda McDonald or Steve Arthur
FDLE Office of Public Information
(850) 410-7001