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Tampa Police Looking Into Sex Suspect's Ties To State Fair

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TBO.com

Published: February 17, 2009

Alex Pala

TAMPA - Police are investigating the extent of a man's involvement with the Florida State Fair after the man, who is charged in a sex crime, said he owned and operated several rides and games there.

Tampa police on Sunday arrested Alex Pala, 42, of Chicago, at the Days Inn at 2522 N. Dale Mabry Highway. Detectives said he tried to pay for sex with a 14-year-old boy, offering the child housing and several thousand dollars a month.

Pala was charged with procuring a person younger than 18 for prostitution, possession of a controlled substance and unlawful use of a two-way communications device. He is being held at the Orient Road Jail.

Police spokeswoman Andrea Davis said today that investigators confirmed Pala worked for the fair last year but were still working to verify his employment this year through the fair's records.

Detectives also are researching any involvement between Pala and children at the fair, Davis said.

Police have no evidence Pala has ever molested a child, and he isn't a registered sexual offender, Davis said.

Paul Wilson of Wilson Media, which handles publicity for the fair, said Monday that Pala was not and is not a game owner or ride owner at the fair. The fair started Feb. 5 and ended Monday.

Terry Grace, midway coordinator, said Pala was an employee of a vendor for the fair but did not work directly for the fair. Even if he worked for a vendor, Wilson said, Pala would have needed credentials.

Davis said Pala told police he spends six months a year in Florida traveling to fairs and the other six months in Illinois.

He told investigators he was in town for the fair and that he operates and owns games and rides for the event. When his truck was being towed from the Days Inn, he said he uses the vehicle to transport equipment to and from fairs, Davis said.

Pala first suggested the idea of having sex with a boy on Sunday to a man at the Kikiki Lounge on Kennedy Boulevard, Davis said. That man alerted police and later spoke on the phone with Pala about the boy. Police recorded that conversation.

Information from Tribune archives was used in this report.

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