TAMPA, Fla. — A Hillsborough County Fire Department lieutenant and his wife have been charged with engaging in sex acts with a minor.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Sascha Engel, 39, a Hillsborough County Fire Rescue lieutenant, and his wife, Alyssa Engel, 37, were arrested on Thursday after an investigation revealed they forced a 16-year-old victim to engage in sexual acts with the couple.
Authorities said they became aware in April of the incident that occurred in March 2024 at a married couple's residence in Riverview.
Officials said Alyssa Engel is a former employee with the state attorney’s office.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister called the Engel's actions "both disgusting and deeply disappointing."
"(It is disappointing) to see not one, but two adults join together to take advantage of a young child, especially when one of those adults is a trusted authority in our community," Chronister said. "This egregious violation of innocence is disgraceful and goes against every value we stand for in this community."