ORLANDO, Fla. – A federal judge has denied bond for a former music teacher in Orange County, ruling that he must remain in custody as his case moves forward.
Prosecutors revealed significant new details in court Monday, including the discovery of 700 Discord chats still under evaluation and allegations of up to 20 additional victims.
Italo Bonini, 25, was arrested last week after authorities linked him to online conversations with two children in Maryland. Court documents state he initially contacted the victims through the video game Roblox before shifting the conversations to Discord, a popular chat platform. Investigators say Bonini offered the boys in-game currency, known as Robux, in exchange for sexually explicit images.
During a search of his home, federal agents reported that Bonini admitted to communicating with children online, allegedly telling investigators that kids were, “easier to talk to.”
Prosecutors disclosed that a student from Hunters Creek Middle School, where Bonini previously worked, is scheduled for an interview this week. The student was not only a pupil at the school but also a private client of Bonini’s for music lessons.
Marc Berkman, CEO of the Organization for Social Media Safety, stressed the importance of parental awareness regarding online risks.
“Parents need to educate themselves,” Berkman said. “If we are allowing our children onto social media, including Roblox and Discord, we have to understand the risks they face.”
Berkman also advised parents to establish safety rules, particularly for elementary-aged children, restricting social media interactions with adults.
“We want to see parents setting rules where children should not be talking to adults through social media,” Berkman said. “It just needs to be a safety rule.”
Berkman urged parents to monitor their children’s privacy settings and review their messages regularly.
If convicted, Bonini may face deportation due to his citizenship status, prosecutors said. His mother and aunt were present in court, with his mother appearing visibly distraught as the judge announced the ruling.
Parents were informed of Bonini’s arrest via a phone call from the school, which assured them that he would not be returning to work under any circumstances.
“Please be assured that we take all allegations very seriously as the safety of students and staff is always our top priority,” a school representative said in a statement.
Off-camera, parents described the arrest as shocking, calling it a wake-up call to monitor their children’s online activities more closely.
Bonini faces a minimum of 10 years in federal prison if convicted. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue reviewing the extensive chat logs and potential new victims.
This is a developing story and ongoing investigation. Check back for updates.
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