Carnival Cruise Lines worker accused of sexually assaulting teen boy

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Monday, August 17, 2015
Cruise ship employee charged with sexual asasult
The victim told his father that after leaving the sauna, the employee followed him into the shower area of the locker room.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. -- A Carnival Cruise line worker is accused of sexually assaulting an underage boy on a ship, ABC affiliate WFTV-TV reports.

The Brevard County Sheriff's Office says Yovany Suazo-Batiz, 46, was a steward on the Carnival Valor when he approached a young boy in the sauna. The boy told his father Suazo-Batiz started a conversation with him and followed him into the shower where the alleged sexual conduct occurred. Once the boy's father learned of the attack, he detained Suazo-Batiz until security arrived.

Carnival Valor security reported the alleged crime to the Brevard County Sheriff's Office on Saturday morning before the ship docked. Suazo-Batiz was arrested on Sunday when the ship docked near Orlando at Port Canaveral.

Suazo-Bati is charged with sexual battery of a person under 16 years of age and lewd and lascivious molestation. The Honduran national is considered a flight risk and is being held on $135,000 bond.

In a statement to WESH-TV, Carnival Cruise Lines said staff was cooperating with police and the FBI and had provided "full support and assistance" to the victim while he was still on the ship.