Crisis center worker, 32, sent vulnerable teen ‘explicit photographs’ and ‘asked to see her naked’

After initially speaking to the teenage girl on the charity’s recorded phone line on March 28 at around 9.30am as she went through a crisis, he repeatedly called on a private line using the name ‘William’, supposedly to check on her.

The hotline is meant for people dealing with depression and trauma as a result of ‘sexual assault, suicidal thoughts, domestic violence, financial distress or emotional or situational problems’, the charity’s website said.

Laracuente Cotto asked the girl for her Instagram name, which she told him, and he followed her on the platform.

He then sent her ‘explicit photographs and videos, in addition to requesting nude photographs of her’, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said.

At school the next day she reported Laracuente Cotto’s actions to a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office school resource deputy.

They investigated and confirmed the details of the case before obtaining a confession from Laracuente Cotto, who was arrested on April 21 for sending harmful material to a minor and for the unlawful use of a two-way communications device on April 21.

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said he could not think of anything ‘more despicable than taking advantage of a child during their time of crisis’.

He said: ‘This individual abused his power, violated the trust of the victim, and equally as important, he violated the trust of his employer, a well-respected non-profit organization that helps tens of thousands of people in need every year.

‘I strongly believe this individual is in no way a reflection of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay or the profoundly positive impact the center has made on the lives of children and adults in our community through the 211 hotline.

‘I do not believe this incident should prevent anyone who is struggling from turning to the Crisis Center for help, and we continue to encourage our residents to do so.’

Clara Reynolds, the president and CEO of the Crisis Center, said: ‘We are deeply saddened by the actions of this former employee but thankful the victim had a resource available in the community that protected them.

‘We are so sorry that a vulnerable person was hurt because it goes directly against what we work for every day.’

The Crisis Center said Laracuente Cotto ‘passed both his local law enforcement and Level 2 background checks before he was hired and was an employee of the organization for less than 60 days.’

It said: ‘As soon as the Crisis Center confirmed the inappropriate telephonic contact, the employee was immediately terminated for violating policies.’

The Center said it was reviewing its procedures and policies in a bid to stop anything similar and that it would continue to cooperate with the Sheriff’s Office investigation.

Detectives asked anyone else who feels they may be a victim, or anyone with additional information related to this case, to call the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office at 813-247-8200. 

To remain anonymous, call CrimeStoppers of Tampa Bay at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477).