A prominent personal trainer in Melbourne has pleaded guilty to offenses related to child sex crimes, sending ripples through the local fitness community.
Leroy Anthony Sevillano, 29, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Friday and admitted to soliciting and transmitting child abuse material in November 2022. He also pleaded guilty to a charge of illegal conduct making it easier to procure a child for sex outside of Australia, also from November 2022.
Victoria Police arrested Sevillano in March of this year following an investigation by the Melbourne Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team. According to police, the actions Sevillano admitted to occurred while the child involved was located outside of Australia.
Initially facing five charges, three were withdrawn by the prosecution during Friday's court hearing. The withdrawn charges included alleged procurement of a child outside Australia for sexual activity, transmitting indecent communication, and obtaining child pornography from outside Australia. All the withdrawn charges were also alleged to have occurred in November 2022.
Sevillano, who resides in Cranbourne West, is a well-regarded personal trainer with multiple clients praising him on social media. He has been affiliated with various Anytime Fitness franchises. Additionally, Sevillano is an Australian competitive powerlifter who has participated in numerous events.
His bail has been extended, and he is scheduled to appear in the County Court for a pre-sentence hearing in February of the following year.
