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A previous youth counsellor on a cruise ship has been accused of sexually assaulting underage individuals while working for Royal Caribbean.
The US Department of Justice reports that Cris John Pentinio Castor, a 35-year-old citizen of the Philippines, has been charged with two instances of committing abusive sexual contact with a minor within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the US on Wednesday.
Authorities report that the vessel he was employed on left from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The federal grand jury in Miami has charged him with a crime and if found guilty, he could be sentenced to life in prison. A hearing has been set for Friday.
Pentinio Castor is facing allegations of committing inappropriate sexual acts with six-year-old girls who were under the care of the Camp at Sea Youth Center on a cruise aboard the Celebrity Silhouette, which is owned by the Royal Caribbean Group.
According to prosecutors, during the reported attack, he was employed as a youth counselor.
The Sun Sentinel newspaper stated that the father of one of the girls informed the youth center manager about the crime three days prior to the end of the cruise. The child expressed a desire to reveal something after being picked up by her parents that morning.
The child informed the manager that she was allegedly touched inappropriately by the crewmember, according to authorities.
According to prosecutors, the six-year-old child informed investigators that the accused individual had reportedly made physical contact with her under her clothing while she was engaged in a video game. Surveillance footage from the ship depicted the man sitting beside the girl and reaching towards her lap.
The FBI Miami Field Office, US Customs and Border Protection, and the Royal Caribbean Group security conducted an investigation into the case.
The DOJ did not disclose any additional information about the case. Assistant US Attorney Audrey Pence Tomanelli from the Southern District of Florida is handling the prosecution.
“We have a strict policy against this type of behavior,” stated Celebrity Cruises to the newspaper. “We immediately informed law enforcement and dismissed the crew member, and we will continue to cooperate fully with the authorities.”
Source: independent.co.uk
