Former Deputy Turned Pastor Charged With Lewd Acts Against Four Minors

Angelo Musicaro spent more than a decade building a career inside Pasco County's law enforcement and school systems. He joined the sheriff's office in October 1997, served as a school resource officer from July 2002 through February 2006, and remained with the department until 2010 before returning in civilian roles from 2015 to 2017. He eventually became pastor of Worship-Life Church in New Port Richey. That layered resume of institutional access now sits at the center of a child molestation case spanning four victims and five years.

The Pasco Sheriff's Office arrested Musicaro, 57, on April 2 after investigating multiple complaints that he had been "inappropriate" with four juvenile victims on various occasions between 2021 and 2026. He faces seven counts of lewd and lascivious molestation, including charges involving a child under the age of 12. Court affidavits describe a consistent pattern: in one documented instance, a victim told detectives she visited Musicaro's home repeatedly from 2021 to 2025 and that he touched her inappropriately underneath her clothing on five separate occasions. Forensic specialists corroborated key details of the allegations.

The investigation moved forward on the strength of those victim accounts and forensic review. Several specifics remain shielded from public disclosure under Marsy's Law, Florida's victim privacy statute, which restricts identifying information about crime victims. Detectives say the incidents are believed to be isolated to the four identified victims but continue to develop leads and are asking anyone with knowledge of additional incidents to come forward.

The case carries a detail that sharpens its already stark dimensions: county filings show Musicaro had pre-filed paperwork to run for Pasco County Sheriff in the 2028 election, which would have put him in command of the office that built the case against him. His background as both a uniformed officer and a clergy figure represents exactly the kind of dual authority that child protection advocates warn creates barriers to disclosure, granting a suspect both legal credibility and spiritual influence over victims and their families.

Leadership at Worship-Life Church told reporters they believe the allegations are untrue. Musicaro is in custody under a no contact order covering all identified victims. The Pasco Sheriff's Office confirmed the victims are safe and receiving appropriate resources.

Detectives are still gathering evidence and have specifically requested that any additional potential victims come forward. Tips can be submitted to the PSO Crime Tips Line at 1-800-706-2488 or online through the sheriff's office tips portal. For anyone seeking guidance on recognizing or reporting suspected abuse in church or youth group settings, the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline operates 24 hours a day at 1-800-422-4453, and RAINN's national sexual assault hotline is available at 1-800-656-4673.