Fox 13 News general manager arrested at Tampa adult store

TAMPA -- The general manager of Fox 13 News WTVT-TV in Tampa was arrested Friday night at Fantasy Land Adult Video Store in Tampa on charges of exposure of a sexual organ and lewd and lascivious behavior.

Tampa Police say Robert W. Linger was one of six men who were arrested by undercover officers at the adult store's movie theatre, at 4714 N Lois Ave.

According to the arrest reports, the six men formed a circle around the undercover officers inside the movie theater and began masturbating.

Linger was also seen sitting on a couch while masturbating, the arrest report states.

Fox 13 News reported the arrest on its Web site, stating that it is "aware of the matter and is currently reviewing it."

Fantasy Land has a full-screen theater with couches. There is a sign inside the theater that states "no sexual acts allowed beyond this point," an employee said Saturday. The theater is considered a public place.

The men were each charged with exposure of sexual organs and lewd and lascivious acts, both misdemeanors. They were taken to the Orient Road Jail.

The men arrested are Linger, 49, of Lutz; Thomas J. Licari, 42, of Lakeland; Michael C. Cabral, 35, of Spring Hill; Ray E. Willis, 52, of Clearwater; Bernard Rosen, 72, of St. Petersburg; and Oscar Garcia-Soler, 39, of Tampa.

All men, except Rosen, have been released from jail, records show.

This wasn't the first time police arrested people at Fantasy Land. In July 2002, police arrested 14 people on prostitution and other charges.

-- Jessica Vander Velde, Times Staff Writer