Collier man faces charges of soliciting minors for sex

Published: Updated:

NAPLES, Fla. — A former East Naples gymnastics teacher admitted to police that he engaged in sexually explicit online communication with someone he believed to be a 13-year-old girl, leading to his arrest.

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office concocted a 13-year-old online persona after receiving a tip that Moises Renobato, 25, had been fired from his gymnastics job for inappropriate communication with underage girls via Instagram.

Renobato traveled to a Naples shopping center Tuesday morning to meet the 13-year-old persona but instead encountered police.

Renobato admitted to inappropriate contact with minors but claimed he had no intention of following through with the sex acts he discussed with the persona, police said. Still, when asked what he would say to parents of the would-be 13-year-old, Renobato said he would tell them to “watch out for guys like me.”

He also said he was fired because he allowed a friend to use his Instagram account and communicate with a 14-year-old girl and not because he spoke with the 14-year-old himself.

Renobato faces counts of traveling to meet a minor for unlawful sexual activity, using a computer service or device to solicit a child for unlawful sexual activity, and transmission of material harmful to minors.

Copyright ©2024 Fort Myers Broadcasting. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written consent.