Man arrested at Typhoon Lagoon

[surfergirl602]

We were in a hit and run accident in Florida and in order to sue him for damages we would have to appear in court in Florida, which just wasn't an option for us as we're in the military. If they lived very far away, I can see as to why he wouldn't want to press charges financially, anyway.

 

[Candy30]

Sick People! I hate to even think on how that made her feel.

 

[LMN]

What a horrible situation. But you know, as emotionally gut-wrenching and awful as it would be to have to go back to FL for a trial, I would think I would still feel compelled to press charges. With 2 victims, the slimebag is more likely to get a harsher sentence. I couldn't bear the thought of him being able to do this to another child, and that would be my motivation to press charges.

 

[wild4dis]

There were several posts like this in this thread.

You would really rather spend time in jail for manslaughter or murder and potentially ruin your life and that of your family and not be able to be there for your kids as they grow up rather than let the authorities take care of the situation?

No...I dont think anyone wants to spend time in jail...but I know my parental protective instinct would have taken over and I would have confronted this guy in a manner that would not have ended in a good way for him.

Not to mention, like another poster said, he will plea out and get a probation....that doesnt cut it for me. This is a problem with our judicial system today, I dont want to sound barbaric, but the punishment often doesnt fit the crime and the bad guys know this. A little public flogging, beating or execution certainly would be a deterent that this countrys criminal need !!
I live in a town in CT that got national news last year when a mom and her 2 daughters were killed by 2 home intruders, while they beat and almost killed the father. After lighting the home on fire, they stole the family car and crashed into police while pulling out of the driveway.......its been over 1 year, they havent even gone to trial yet, they keep posting different legal pleas....thats embarrasing to our judicial system !! (thus the reason some people may think taking the law into their own hands is the correct action )

 

[Piglets Mommy]

Ugh! How Sick!

Thanks for posting this and reminding us that while Disney may be "The Happiest Place on Earth" you still can't let your guard down...there are creeps and perverts everywhere.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

It's not just Disney. Just about every water park (and I imagine many large community pools) have problems similar. My Dad used to work part time security at Water Country USA (in Williamsburg, VA). He said at least once or twice a year they caught adult men fondling themselves (and exposing themselves) while watching the kids in the "kiddie" areas. Of course, they do take action (if they can find him, as many times it's a horrified parent coming to tell security and by the time security gets there they're gone) and who knows how many they don't catch. I go there a lot and see many parents let their little kids run free all over the water park while they lay out and don't even pay attention. There's many things that happen on a daily basis at these types of places that don't make the news. Just be careful! It's so sad

 

[lawone]

How about we focus on the victim instead of the sick attacker? He has received enough attention-- which is probably what he wanted in the first place.

I hope she is ok and can wrap her head around it/talk to someone. Sad.

 

[MusiqChic99]

It's not just Disney. Just about every water park (and I imagine many large community pools) have problems similar. My Dad used to work part time security at Water Country USA (in Williamsburg, VA). He said at least once or twice a year they caught adult men fondling themselves (and exposing themselves) while watching the kids in the "kiddie" areas. Of course, they do take action (if they can find him, as many times it's a horrified parent coming to tell security and by the time security gets there they're gone) and who knows how many they don't catch. I go there a lot and see many parents let their little kids run free all over the water park while they lay out and don't even pay attention. There's many things that happen on a daily basis at these types of places that don't make the news. Just be careful! It's so sad

This is so very true. And it's not just water parks...it can happen at your local mall. These guys go there and just watch kids. It's sad, disgusting and horrifying.

There are really good people in this world but there are very bad ones as well. We are just usually reminded more of the bad ones.

 

[Kellylynn3]

it is unfortunate that there are people in the world who are like this and i think it does serve as a good remind to parents that disney (and many other public areas) may not be the safest places for children. There are many times I'm out in public where I see parents changing or letting their young children (especially girls) run around with out clothes (usually no shirts) and it kind of scares me. Sure they're just young kids but you don't know who could be around and get tempted by just this sort of thing. Yes its sick but unfortunately you have to keep your guard up sometimes. Perfect example was my trip to Disney last year when I was walking around the World of Disney Store and entered the princess room where a woman was having her daughter who had to be at least 7 or 8 years old try on a dress right in the middle of the room with no shirt or covering on. I'm not usually a paranoid person and I don't think its right to live in fear but this kinda baffled me. I think many people think of Disney as safe but like I said there are all kinds of people out there and you never know who is watching. Thank goodness they caught the guy and hopefully the girl isn't suffering from any serious mental anguish from all this.

 

[disneylove69]

There are some real sickos out there. Ladies you wouldn't believe how many times I watch men on security cameras videotaping under women's skirts and doing other things while watching the women or children shopping an aisle over. They may not have filed charges because they were not from the area/ country. I personally would file anything I could .....if he ever made it out of the hospital With all the father's out there this guy is lucky lifeguards got him first.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I think to not press charges sends the wrong message to the daughter, and perpetuates this problem. It certainly doesnt draw any attention to the issue. I would have pressed charges, and then he couldve paid for her college and wedding..

No, I don't think there's any monetary benefit to the victim in a criminal trial.

 

[cap'njack.]

Although we would have pressed charges, I'm more upset about the part of the story that said:

"Sgt. Keith Hubbard watched the man from a security control room and reported seeing a man repeatedly position himself in front of young girls in the wave pool and dive under water and attempt to remove their bathing suit tops

Several Disney employees reported seeing the same thing, deputies said."

That is exactly what I thought after reading the article. Why did it take several CM's to report this? Why did security watch him doing it repeatedly?

 

[fan1080]

That is exactly what I thought after reading the article. Why did it take several CM's to report this? Why did security watch him doing it repeatedly?

It is not always obvious what is going on. Investigators use this tactic all the time.

Then, once it is known for certain, by way of witnessing unmistakeably what this guy was up to, it's easier to conclude that he was probably doing it all along.

Hindsight is 20/20.

 

[Bearybear]

Not to mention, like another poster said, he will plea out and get a probation....that doesnt cut it for me.

In the unlikely event that a molestation of a child under age 16 does result in a plea for probation (which after working in the local court system, I find highly unlikely) there is no way the prosecutor wouldn't require as part of the plea that this guy also become a registered sex offender. Then everyone can know where he lives and know what he does. But I find that in this type of case, there is little chance he'd escape any time.

 

[brighteyes]

I agree,the father maybe did not press charges because he already knew he was charged from another offence. Maybe the daughter did not want to press charges because she didn't want to testify.

Or like pp said, maybe they were from out of state, or perhaps the country.

Steph

 

[NotUrsula]

Another thing to consider re: the CM's watching on camera is the sheer physical difficulty of catching that person in a wave pool as large as the one at TL. There are SO many places to disappear in that park. I'm betting that CM's were in the water trying to find him, but if they had been using radios and obviously looking he would have realized it and lost himself in the crowd. They would have needed footage of a pattern to make an arrest stick and get him out of the parks for good.

It is REALLY difficult to track down and stop someone who is in a large moving crowd on the ground, let alone a crowd that is in the midst of 6-foot waves. In the case of a man, you normally can't use clothing to identify them from outside the water. The best you can do is identify hair and skin, then try to get close enough to the right person to catch him in the act and keep your eyes on him long enough to physically catch up.

 

[Tink*My*World]

I just found out that this guy lives in a neighboring town to me AND apparently he is very active in his church.

 

[mmcguire]

How about we focus on the victim instead of the sick attacker? He has received enough attention-- which is probably what he wanted in the first place.

I hope she is ok and can wrap her head around it/talk to someone. Sad.

You're absolutely right. I am very glad someone actually believed her and I hope she has someone she feels comfortable talking to about what happened.

It's not just Disney. Just about every water park (and I imagine many large community pools) have problems similar. (

It's not just water parks, either. Be careful in your neighborhood pools, and even private pools. Also be wary of childless/grandchildless adults inviting neighborhood kids over. When I was 12, my cousin and I visited her neighbor's pool with some of her friends. The neighbor, a man in his 50's, proceeded to follow me around the pool and grope me several times. I left and told my aunt, but she defended the neighbor, stopping short of saying I was lying; insisting I must have been mistaken about what he did; he would never do anything like that.

At least nowadays, more adults are actually believing kids, so these perverts are caught and stopped!!!

 

[DisneyFed]

In the unlikely event that a molestation of a child under age 16 does result in a plea for probation (which after working in the local court system, I find highly unlikely) there is no way the prosecutor wouldn't require as part of the plea that this guy also become a registered sex offender. Then everyone can know where he lives and know what he does. But I find that in this type of case, there is little chance he'd escape any time.

Most definitely will be put on the Sex Offender Registry.......

I wish I had your prosecutors.

Two weeks ago I sent a similar incident through court---5 year Confinement, Suspended to 4 years Supervised Probation, additional 2 years unsupervised probation....over our objections and not in line with what the parents had been informed the plea would entail....

For those of you not up to speed on legal speak---this means the only time he spent in jail was the 24 hours we had him in before he bonded out....

DF

 

[Bearybear]

DisneyFed, I can't believe the judge accepted that plea! I would imagine that Disney being the money generating center of the Orlando area, the prosecutors must take Disney-related crimes more seriously, as if crime gets out of hand at Disney, families will be less likely to come, cutting off the money river (all those taxes on hotels!). Not that victims should get less justice in one spot than another, but you do try to protect the hand that feeds you.