Son of late congressman charged after alleged sexual messages and payments to teen
The son of one of the longest serving Republicans in Congress faces child pornography and other serious charges after allegedly engaging in inappropriate conduct with a 15-year-old girl in Florida.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said 38-year-old Patrick Rainey Young, son of the late Rep. Bill Young, has been charged with single counts of soliciting a child for unlawful sexual conduct using an electronic device and harmful communication to a minor, as well as two counts of possession of child pornography.
The sheriff’s Crimes Against Children Unit received information on Jan. 8, 2026, that a 38-year-old man and 15-year-old girl had engaged in inappropriate conduct. The man was later identified as Young.
According to police, Young met the girl while working the scoreboard at his son’s baseball game at Seminole High School.
EX-MAYOR CAUGHT IN LEWD ACT AT BOOZE-FILLED POOL PARTY, PROSECUTORS SAY
He then allegedly made sexual comments about the victim’s body and gave her alcohol and nicotine, the sheriff’s office said.
After the initial interaction, Young and the victim allegedly continued their relationship at baseball games, and through Instagram messages, where the two discussed sexual favors and nude photos in exchange for money.
Detectives learned during the investigation that Young allegedly gave the girl $300 after he received a nude photo of her. Additionally, the girl was given food in exchange for nude photos, the sheriff’s office alleged.
Young was ultimately arrested and transported to the Pinellas County Jail, where he remains in custody on $10,000 bond – $5,000 for each possession of child pornography charge.
Young’s father, Bill Young, died in 2013 at the age of 82. Up until that point, he was the longest-tenured Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives and served as the longtime top appropriator for the defense industry.
He served in the House for 42 years and 288 days, beginning in 1971 and ending at his death.
His record as the longest-serving Republican in the House was later surpassed by Rep. Don Young of Alaska.