Sexual Assault

Published on: December 18, 2024

College Athlete Convicted of attacking 17-year-old on Carnival Cruise Ship, officials say

A man convicted of raping a 17-year-old on a Carnival Cruise sexually assaulted at least half a dozen other people, according to an FBI investigation.

Jalen Thomas Kelley, 22, of Abingdon, Maryland, was convicted of aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse and assault after police say he raped a minor aboard the Carnival Legend in January 2023. During the two-week trial, six other people spoke out against Kelley and testified that he had sexually assaulted them in separate incidents.

Officials with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland said in a news release that Kelley could face a maximum sentence of life in prison. As of Tuesday morning, he had not been sentenced. His sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge.

Published on: December 13, 2024

Cruise Passenger Reports to Miami-Dade Police Rape by Crew Members. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

Police are investigating rape allegations after an MSC Cruises passenger claims she was raped by multiple crew members on a recent voyage.

The woman, a 44-year-old from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, who was not named in the article, reported the incident to police on Dec. 7 when her ship returned to PortMiami. The woman alleges that while traveling alone for a week-long cruise she mistakenly mixed her anti-anxiety medication with alcohol and went to the ship’s buffet. The woman said she planned to take the food back with her to her cabin to eat before going to bed.

A waiter allegedly found her and took her plate to her room, according to reporting from The Miami Herald. Instead of leaving, the woman said the waiter lingered before raping her. The next day, the woman said what room she was staying in while speaking with a different crewmember.

Published on: September 17, 2024

Man accused of filming child in Florida mall restroom faces charges, police say. A Look at Similar Cruise Ship Cases.

By Leesfield & Partners

A 22-year-old man allegedly used a cell phone to take photos of a little girl in the women’s restroom of a Naples mall, the Naples Police Department said in a press release Monday.

David Sanabria, of unincorporated Collier County, was charged with video voyeurism and drug charges related to the incident. As of Tuesday morning, Sanabria remained in custody at the Collier County Jail, records show. Sanabria was given a court date of Oct. 7. Attorney details as well as information about a potential bond were not immediately available Tuesday.

The incident happened on Sept. 13 at the Coastland Center Mall, a shopping center featuring approximately 122 stores a movie theater and food court. Police who were patrolling the mall were approached by a minor who said that a man was taking photos of her in the women’s restroom from a neighboring bathroom stall. Police saw Sanabria exiting the women’s restroom and he was taken into custody, investigators said in the press release.

Published on: September 11, 2024

Florida Man Connected to “Autism on the Seas” Accused of Sexually Abusing a Minor on a Cruise Ship

By Leesfield & Partners

A Florida man allegedly contributing to at least two programs aimed to provide services for special needs children was charged after police accused him of sexually abusing a minor aboard a cruise ship in 2023.

James “Jamie” Grover, 62, of Volusia County, Florida, was charged with sexually abusing a minor after a search of his Deltona home in Volusia County, Florida, and of his workplace at the Seminole Town Center Mall in Sanford Thursday, according to local news outlets.

In reporting from 10 Tampa Bay, at least two mothers accused Grover of sexually abusing their children in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. At least one of the mothers said Grover committed a “sexual act” on her son while on a cruise in May of 2023.

Published on: September 6, 2024

Man Accused in Cruise Passenger’s Rape Faces Charges Following Weekend Cruise, Officials Say

By Leesfield & Partners

A Texas man who allegedly raped a woman on Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas faced sexual battery charges and was taken into police custody when the ship docked in Fort Lauderdale over the weekend, officials say.

The alleged attack took place on Aug. 28 with a 20-year-old woman stating to police that she was raped mid-cruise by the man.

The man, 28, was granted a $20,000 bond.

Published on: August 30, 2024

From a ‘Massive Brawl’ to Financial Crimes: A Look at Recent Criminal and Dangerous Activity Aboard Cruise Ships

By Leesfield & Partners

Four passengers on a four-day cruise from Miami face charges and others aboard Carnival Cruise Lines’ Freedom were accused of fighting, according to news outlets.

Two fights broke out during one of Carnival’s Freedom voyages from Port Canaveral. The first alleged fight took place Saturday in the ship’s nightclub between at least four people. When the ship docked in Bimini the next day, all four were escorted off the ship with their parties.

The second fight happened on one of the upper decks of the ship and included several people jumping into the brawl. It is unclear what started either fight. In footage of the second fight, a security guard can be seen stepping in to stop any further violence after much of the group that was brawling had already separated.

Published on: August 20, 2024

Hotel And Cruise Ship Security – How Responsible Are These Companies When It Comes To Protecting Their Customers?

By Leesfield & Partners

In the latest data for 2023, a year that saw “unprecedented” levels of tourists, nearly 140.6 million visitors were recorded visiting the state, breaking previous years’ records and displaying a 2.3% increase from 2022.

With that many visitors in Florida to take advantage of its year-round summers, long stretches of sunny days on the beach and the natural beauty of the state, comes an increase in hotel and short-term vacation rental usage.

With more people booking these accommodations than ever before, hotels and rental companies are watching their businesses boom and are likely overcome by the money coming in. Any good businessperson would see this as an opportunity to expand to bring in more revenue. If done incorrectly, however, this expansion and the fallout of a larger space may come to the detriment of the very people these companies aim to please.

Published on: August 14, 2024

Data shows cruise crime rates have dropped in the first half of 2024. Here’s a look at Leesfield & Partners’ experience with this growing industry

By Leesfield & Partners

The Department of Transportation has reported a decrease in crime on cruise ships compared to numbers from earlier this year, data shows.

The latest available data from the Department of Transportation shows there have been about eight assaults with serious bodily injury, one suspicious death, one missing person, nine sexual assaults and 16 rape cases aboard ships reported to authorities. These incidents are alleged to have taken place from April to June 2024. Cruise lines with ships sailing to or from the United States are required to report criminal activity to the FBI such as sexual assaults, missing persons, physical assaults, property crimes and other alleged criminal activity every quarter, per the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act.

A Look at the Numbers

Published on: August 9, 2024

Disney Cruise Line Announces New Ship – What to Know

By Leesfield & Partners

Disney Cruise Line announced plans for a new ship this week set to take sail in 2025.

Disney’s Destiny Cruise Ship will sail four and five-night voyages from Fort Lauderdale to the Bahamas and the Western Caribbean starting in November 2025. The ship is reportedly a merging of the stories of villains and heroes alike from Disney, Pixar and Marvel’s most-beloved stories. The ship will have three restaurants, themed “splash zones” and live shows with character meet-and-greets.

This comes just two weeks after Carnival Cruise Lines announced the addition of three more ships to its fleet with the carrying capacity to rival that of Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas which is reportedly the largest cruise ship in operation today. The cruise ship industry is rapidly expanding after taking a major hit following the COVID-19 pandemic which saw the industry shut down to stop the spread of the virus. According to data based on research from J.P. Morgan, by 2028, the cruise ship industry will capture approximately 3.8% of the $1.9 trillion global vacation market. Globally, 35.7 million passengers are expected to set sail in 2024. This is a 6% increase from pre-COVID-19 numbers.

Published on: June 19, 2024

Cruise ships set to plug into power in Port Miami, attracting more ships to the area. Leesfield & Partners suspects a major problem

By Leesfield & Partners

Cruise ships at Port Miami will be able to plug into the county’s power grid – a move that officials say will boost the local economy by attracting more cruise lines to the area while cutting down on pollution.

There’s just one problem. More ships means an increase in the possibility of cruise ship injuries, a practice area that Leesfield & Partners knows all too well.

The decision was spurred by sustainability efforts from Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava who told reporters in an article published in The Miami Herald that the project would bring the county that much closer to cutting down on its carbon emissions.