New College official out after latest arrest on exposure charge
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New College of Florida. Photo: Thomas Simonetti for The Washington Post via Getty Images
A top New College of Florida official and former communications director for Gov. Ron DeSantis was arrested Tuesday on a charge of exposure of sexual organs, according to police records.
State of play: Fred Piccolo Jr., the college's former marketing and media director, "is no longer employed by the college," according to an unsigned statement from the college's communications department shared with Axios. His name was also scrubbed from the college's website.
- As of Wednesday afternoon, he remained in custody at the Manatee County Jail.
Driving the news: His arrest stems from an incident on March 28 in which Piccolo stopped his car to ask a woman for directions in Lakewood Ranch, where records show he owns a condo, according to a Manatee County Sheriff's Office arrest report obtained by Axios.
- The woman realized he was naked and looked inside his car, where she saw him holding his erect penis in his hand, the woman told deputies. She took off running and called 911.
The other side: Piccolo's Sarasota-based attorney, Eric Reisinger, told Axios his client was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson's disease 10 years ago and that "medications prescribed by his medical team have, regrettably, resulted in compulsive behavior and hypersexuality as side effects."
- "Consequently, these side effects are causing Mr. Piccolo to behave in a manner inconsistent with his established character," Reisinger said.
The big picture: Piccolo, 47, is also facing three additional exposure charges stemming from incidents last year, court records show.
- On Aug. 22, Piccolo exposed himself to a female employee of the Banana Republic store at University Town Center, according to a Sarasota County Sheriff's Office probable cause affidavit.
- He used his hand "in a stroking manner" while looking at the associate through the open door of his fitting room, a deputy wrote.
- A week and a half later, on Sept. 3, he exposed himself to two female employees at Dillard's in the same shopping center, investigators say. He did it again the next day at the same store, according to police.
- Police forwarded the cases to prosecutors, who filed charges against Piccolo in all three cases in October. The cases remain open.
Between the lines: New College officials, as of Wednesday afternoon, hadn't responded to Axios' inquiry about the timing of Piccolo's departure.
- He was still listed on the college's website as the director of marketing and media in February, four months after prosecutors filed charges against him, according to the Internet Archive.
Flashback: Piccolo also faced allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior in 2022, dating from his time as campaign manager for former state Rep. Jackie Toledo's unsuccessful bid for Congress.
- Toledo, in a lawsuit, accused Piccolo of sending her inappropriate text messages with photos of himself in various states of undress.
- She later voluntarily dismissed the lawsuit.
Catch up quick: Piccolo has an extensive resume in Florida GOP politics.
- He worked as a spokesperson for current New College president Richard Corcoran when Corcoran was speaker of the Florida House from 2016-2018.
- In 2020, DeSantis hired him as communications director. He resigned about six months into his tenure amid criticism over a post on X, then Twitter, about the COVID-19 pandemic.
- From there, Piccolo moved to the Florida Department of Education, where he worked as an executive vice chancellor, once again under Corcoran, who was education commissioner at the time.
What they're saying: When asked whether DeSantis had a response to the cases against his former employee, spokesperson Molly Best said, "He hasn't worked here in over 4 years."