Russell Teiler Carawan, 57, of Port Charlotte, was adjudicated guilty of one count of Unlawful Sexual Activity, two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance, and one count of Possession of Paraphernalia. The defendant was sentenced to six years in prison followed by seven years of Sex Offender Probation. He will also now be a Registered Sexual Offender.
The defendant met a 17-year-old boy on the app called Grindr. The defendant picked up the boy and brought him to his house, where the sexual crime occurred. He did this twice between October 2020 and March 2021.
An investigation was started by the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office after information was received about the crime. A search warrant served on the defendant’s home also led to the discovery of methamphetamine and other narcotics and drug paraphernalia. The defendant was then arrested.
Assistant State Attorney Jennifer Garczewski prosecuted the case.
Samantha Syoen – Communications Director, State Attorney’s Office