Dagoberto Miguel Pena, a physical education teacher and coach from Punta Gorda, was sentenced on May 1 to 60 years in federal prison for producing, receiving, possessing, and accessing with intent to view images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell also ordered Pena to a life term of supervised release and required him to register as a sex offender. According to the announcement by U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe, Pena pleaded guilty on January 23.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to address crimes involving child exploitation and underscores the seriousness with which such offenses are prosecuted.
Court documents show that between October 2024 and February 2026, Pena used his position as a coach and teacher to persuade two minors into engaging in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of creating visual depictions of their abuse. The investigation began in April 2025 after a parent discovered inappropriate communications between Pena and a minor. Authorities executed search warrants on his cellphone and online storage accounts, uncovering text messages with minors as well as images depicting nude minors engaged in sexually explicit acts. Further evidence revealed that Pena had taken photos during his abuse of two minors and possessed additional material involving a third minor.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Fort Myers Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force led the investigation with support from the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office and assistance from the Punta Gorda Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation nationwide by coordinating federal, state, and local resources.
