Radar Watchlist: Richard Kowalczyk and Eric Patrick
- RADAR News
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
Imagine building an empire on drag shows and glitter, only to be unmasked as a child predator. The Southern Nights drag bars marketed themselves as “safe spaces” for the LGBTQ+ community. They staged drag shows, burlesque performances, and Pride galas. They collected awards for “community leadership” and built reputations as nightlife staples. But behind the wigs and makeup, there was something much darker.
In January 2025, federal prosecutors unmasked Richard Kowalczyk, co-owner of Southern Nights, and his partner Eric Patrick, a school teacher, as predators hiding in plain sight. The indictment is chilling. Both men were indicted in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida (Case 6:2024cr00287) on charges of conspiracy, enticement of a minor, and child pornography. Kowalczyk faces conspiracy, attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, two counts of receiving child pornography, and possession of child pornography. Patrick faces conspiracy, attempted enticement, and distribution of child sexual abuse material. Court documents describe “predatory deviant sexual behavior towards minors” that went on for years. Investigators traced their crimes back to 2019 Telegram exchanges where the pair swapped images and videos of children, some as young as 7 years old. The court case alleges that Eric Patrick outright bragged about seducing minors on hookup apps, boasting of hotel encounters with underage boys. Kowalczyk’s iPhone was seized, and it revealed 83 images and two videos of child sexual abuse material, many depicting prepubescent victims under 12. Among their most grotesque plans was a 2020 trip to Key West, where they schemed to “engage in sexual acts with young boys.”
These were carefully plotted crimes hidden behind the mask of nightlife activism. Investigators even linked Kowalczyk to a 2006 DUI arrest in Key West, matching his birthdate and addresses tied to Orange and Hillsborough counties – areas where his drag bar empire thrived. The indictment paints the picture of serial predators using their “LGBTQ+ identity” as cover. Beginning as a bartender at the original Southern Nights, Kowalczyk took over ownership in 2014, reopening the Orlando location at 375 S. Bumby Ave. The venue became infamous for drag-heavy programming, including burlesque acts by groups like Ivy Les Vixens. By 2023, Southern Nights Tampa had become a staple of Florida's Pride scene. Kowalczyk accepted plaques at the Tampa Pride Grand Marshal Gala, where his bar was honored as a “Recognized Community Business.” Transqueer journalists lauded his contributions to “LGBTQ+ nightlife,” while the Orlando and Tampa locations branded themselves as cornerstones of “safe” queer culture.
But the empire was built on lies. Southern Nights was technically an adult-only venue, but nowadays, teenagers are easily drawn into these scenes, whether through Pride parades, social media, or nightlife mystique. Eric Patrick’s role as a school teacher makes it even worse. The man who was entrusted with children’s education was allegedly distributing child pornography and grooming minors into sexual encounters the entire time. Parents who thought their children were safe in school unknowingly had a pedophile in the classroom. This is the same pattern Gays Against Groomers has exposed nationwide: activists leveraging institutional trust (schools, bars, nonprofits, libraries) to violate boundaries or infiltrate spaces where children are present. Patrick and Kowalczyk are symptoms of a larger issue: a movement that prioritizes “sexual liberation” over child protection.
Southern Nights and its sister venue, District Dive, issued statements distancing themselves: “We absolutely do not condone [the allegations]. Richard Kowalczyk has transferred his ownership and will step aside.” But the bars remain open, their stages intact, their communities untouched. Awards and honors once draped around Kowalczyk’s neck now cast a shadow over the entire Pride establishment that celebrated him. Politicians and media scrambled to respond. Representative Anna V. Eskamani publicized the charges on Facebook, detailing Kowalczyk’s business ties. Outlets like Orlando Weekly and Watermark ran stories noting the bars’ prominence in queer nightlife. Even Libs of TikTok amplified the scandal: “LGBTQ activist indicted for child s*x crimes,” noting Eric Patrick’s role as a teacher and referencing a 12-year-old victim. This case runs deep, and accountability has yet to follow. Predators hide behind pronouns, Pride awards, and drag spectacles in order to exploit institutions celebrated as “progressive” and “inclusive” all while targeting children. These spaces are not safe havens. They are shields for an ideology that puts kids in danger.
The lesson is clear. Nightlife activism, Pride parades, drag venues, and even classrooms can be co-opted as pipelines for perverts. Southern Nights is a case study in how child grooming goes unchecked when wrapped in Pride banners and applause from activists who refused to see the red flags. The receipts are public. The indictment is real. The evidence is shocking. Richard Kowalczyk and Eric Patrick have been exposed, but the rot runs deeper. Gays Against Groomers demands immediate action. The fallout has been swift but shallow, and Kowalczyk’s attorney, Fritz Scheller, insists on innocence, vowing to fight the charges. But the case against Richard Kowalczyk and Eric Patrick continues to drag on. The trial was originally set for March 3, 2025, but was postponed to the August 2025 term after an unopposed motion and a waiver of speedy trial rights through August 31, 2025. On July 15, 2025, the court granted another 60-day continuance, leaving the trial date uncertain, potentially pushed to October. Kowalczyk and Patrick were released on bond and remain free until a verdict is made. Gays Against Groomers vows to keep these sick freaks on our watchlist until they are behind bars for their heinous crimes. The fight to protect children from harm continues, and this nightmare is proof that we must stay vigilant.
References
Thank you to Daniel, Leonardo, and Mandy from our Research Team, whose work allows us to deliver robust investigations and well-sourced reporting.
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