A year after Eric Patrick and his husband, a former Orlando bar owner, were indicted on multiple counts related to child pornography and child sex crimes, Patrick has pleaded guilty to attempting to lure a teen for sex, according to a report by the Orlando Sentinel.
Patrick’s husband is Richard Kowalczyk, the former co-owner of gay nightclubs Southern Nights Orlando and Tampa. He swiftly transferred his ownership over amid his indictment and has no further involvement with the businesses, Southern Nights previously told Orlando Weekly.
Patrick, a former Gotha Middle School teacher, pleaded guilty in an Orlando courtroom Feb. 9 to attempting to entice a 15-year-old, according to his plea agreement. Patrick and Kowalczyk met the teen on Grindr, a dating app geared toward gay men, where the pair exchanged messages with him.
Patrick agreed to plead guilty weeks before the pair was set to go on trial in federal court in January. According to court records, two the charges against Patrick were dropped in exchanged for him registering as a sex offender and agreeing to testify against Kowalczyk.
His attorney requested he remained free until his sentencing May 7, but that motion was denied by U.S. District Court Judge Carlos Mendoza.
The pair were arrested Jan. 2, 2025. Charges against Kowalczyck included conspiracy to entice a minor, attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, two counts of receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography.
Patrick was charged with coercion and enticement of a minor and distribution of child pornography.
“They both very clearly engaged in predatory deviant sexual behavior towards minors,” the 2025 indictment read. “Their behavior went on for years, demonstrating their acts as intentional.”
Kowalczyk participated in conversations on private messaging platform Telegram that go back as far as 2019, court records show. The “graphic exchanges” found on Kowalczyk’s phone during the investigation reportedly included images and videos featuring minors suspected to be as young as 7 years old.
Kowalczyk co-owned Southern Nights, as well as District Dive and Stiffy’s in Orlando. Southern Nights has long been known for its weekly themed events, drag and burlesque shows, and for offering a safe space for LGBTQ+ community members in Orlando’s nightlife scene. The three venues employ dozens of local workers.
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