Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog
A Jacksonville man convicted of aggravated sexual abuse on an 18-year-old woman while aboard a cruise ship was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison.
The 23-year-old was convicted in March after 90 minutes of deliberation. He did not testify.
During the cruise aboard the Carnival Elation, the man was in a hot tub with a number of people, including a young woman with the mental capacity of a 12-year-old. He touched the woman over her bathing suit and groped her under the water.
The victim left the Jacuzzi and immediately reported what happened to her grandmother, who reported it to ship security.
When the man is released from prison, he will be a registered sex offender.
The sad truth is that sexual assault is the number one crime aboard cruise ships. They are also the most underreported to the public, so when cruisers book their vacation at sea, being sexually assaulted or raped rarely crosses their mind. This only makes innocent vacationers more vulnerable to perpetrators who commit these crimes on the high seas.
If you have suffered from acts of sexual violence while traveling on a cruise ship, you may have a legitimate claim against the cruise line for financial damages. If you would like to learn more about your potential injury claims and how best to proceed with litigation, you can contact our Florida Cruise Ship Injury Attorneys at Whittel & Melton online or call 866-608-5529 for further assistance.