Carnival crew member in court on sexual assault charges
A steward has appeared in court on charges of sexually assaulting a teenager aboard the Carnival Valor ship.
Honduran national Yovany Suazo-Batiz, 46, made a first court appearance Sunday and was formally held on lewd and lascivious molestation and sexual battery of a person under 16.
He is being held on a $135,000 bond at Brevard County Jail.
Carnival issued a brief statement saying it informed the police and FBI immediately on hearing of the allegations.
"We extend our appreciation to both federal and local law enforcement agencies for their support and are continuing to provide Care Team assistance to the alleged victim," the cruise line said.
According to reports, the victim’s father and other passengers detained the steward until Carnival’s onboard security team arrived.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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