Man charged with molesting boy at TL

[JerseyMamaBear]

how sad, I hope the 13 year old boy is okay and that he is not put through any further distress.

 

[BYC]

I am amazed at the posts here that want to blame the parents, and/or Disney for this horrible man's actions. No one is responsible except the perpetrator. The boy is 13. Old enough to not have his hand held every minute. The father and boy reported the crime immediately. Disney handled it. The man was arrested. I can't imagine one thing that could have been done to avoid this situation. Now, if this man gets out to repeat this crime, then THAT is the travesty of justice. I hope he goes to jail for a very long time. But he won't. Our laws just don't protect children.

 

[BYC]

OMG!!! What is going on at Disney World? I am just about ready to cancel my trip in January with my two young nephews!!!

Man Charged With Molesting Boy, 13, in Disney World's Typhoon Lagoon
Friday, July 17, 2009


Print ShareThisORLANDO, Fla. — A man has been arrested on a sex-related charge at an Orlando water park, the fifth such incident in the area in a month.

David Eugene Thomas was being held without bond Friday at the Orange County Jail after he was charged with molesting a 13-year-old boy at Walt Disney World's Typhoon Lagoon.

The other incidents occurred at Typhoon Lagoon, Sea World's Aquatica park and Universal's Wet 'n Wild park.

A Disney spokeswoman says the theme park resort is focused on identifying inappropriate behavior at the water parks and reporting them to law enforcement.

Disney needs to get things under control. How many has this been in the last week or so. This is scary.

Just a note to the OP that says she is ready to cancel her trip.......If you think that these few incidents are exclusive to Disney, you are very mistaken. You nephews have just as much, or more of a chance of being molested at school, or camp, on a school bus, or God forbid, even at home. Take the kids to Disney...it is safer than most any place in the world.

 

[Tomh]

I certainly wouldn't cancel a trip to Disney World because of this. It is sad, but not a reason to stay home.

The truth is that statistically, most sexual assaults are committed by family members, or close friends, not strangers in a wave pool, according to the US department of Justice 73% of sexual assaults are committed by a "non-stranger," and 50% were committed within one mile of the victims home (or in their home).

This means that your nephews are likely safer at Disney World than they are in their own living room, at least statistically.

Certainly this is not the fault of the victim, his parents, or Disney. It is the fault of a very sick individual. However, this does reassure me that I'm doing the right thing when I keep such a careful watch on my DD14. She is forever telling me what other kids are allowed to do, and she doesn't understand why I say no, and I keep telling her that I'm not responsible for the other kids, only for her, and I get to make the decisions. It just seems that there is no end to the crap you've got to watch out for.

We haven't gone to any of the water parks in Florida, and probably won't. Neither DD14, or I like water slides, and DS5 isn't really ready for them yet, so the cost of admission wouldn't be justified for our family. In many ways, I'm glad that we have that built in reason, as the water park seems to be a magnet for this kind of behavior, so it seems that just avoiding the water park would greatly reduce your risks.

 

[The Hendies]

You can't raise your children in a bubble, I know we didn't. I do think we tried to raise them equipped be as safe as possible wherever they were...in school, at Boy/Girl Scouts, and at WDW.

 

[RabFlmom]

as the water park seems to be a magnet for this kind of behavior, so it seems that just avoiding the water park would greatly reduce your risks.
__________________>>>>>>>>>

And you then will also avoid the hotel pools, the beach, the playgrounds, the school classroom, the little league or soccer practice or games, the neighbors house, Uncle Bubba's house, grandpas, scout camps, church camps, the movies, police sponsored activities, lines in any of the parks .....where does it stop? I have seen reports and have had people tell me about incidents in each of those places, just to name a few. Just know that it is up to us to know that such things happen and to keep an open line with our kids no matter what age they are so they will talk to you even if told to keep things a secret. Kids should not be afraid to share with us.

Even the 15 year old boy the last man had living with him and on vacation in Orlando with him with his mother's permission ( not sure if it was his son according to what I read) told the police the man touched his butt through his swim trunks. So I think kids are more likely to say something now than years ago when they were made to feel guilty and hushed up.

The one thing I am scared of will be the over reaction that might happen when an innocent person actually is just thrown into someone else in the wave pools, and the child cries wolf thinking they have been touched in the swimsuit area on purpose. When a person is riding the wave or being tossed by it it is easy to run into someone else and easy to be touched in the wrong places and then to end up in totally different spots in the pool so apologies might not be able to be given- might not even know who you bumped into or grabbed to keep from smashing into a little one.
I think the important thing is being aware. Noticing if someone positions themselves close to someone in the pool more than 1 time and they aren't with that person. Watch for people taking pictures of your kids or kids that are not at the parks with them. Just remember not every tourist is really a tourist. Not every person living in Florida is a saint .

 

[Buzz Litebeer]

i am amazed at the posts here that want to blame the parents, and/or disney for this horrible man's actions. No one is responsible except the perpetrator.

This.

 

[stemikger]

The Hendies
You can't raise your children in a bubble, I know we didn't. I do think we tried to raise them equipped be as safe as possible wherever they were...in school, at Boy/Girl Scouts, and at WDW.

Very true. Unfortunately I made the mistake of being too over-protective and now I see it wasn't the right thing to do. My daughter is 14 years old but looks much older but has many fears because of all the things I was afraid of happening to her.

I still have a hard time letting her do things on her own and worry all the time, but I also see the damage I have done, so please don't make the same mistake I did, it is very hard to erase their fears after you drilled it into them too much. I thought I was doing the right thing to keep her safe, but yoiu really have to do it the right way and have a balance.

I know I may have given you TMI, but I thought I would tell my story so other parents don't go over the top the way I did.

Unfortunately there are many sick people that would hurt kids, but we still have to let them live. Easier said then done. For me anyway.

 

[jjarman]

I am the OP and made the comment about being ready to cancel my trip. I made this comment not just based on this incident but there have been at least 2 reported in the last week or two also at the water parks. I guess I had a false sense of security at WDW. When I have gone before with my son he was 12,14 and 16. He never went off on his own until he was 16 and he was 6 feet tall then so I felt pretty safe. I am thankful the perv was caught so quickly and I do feel sorry for the boys involved. But it sounds like the water parks in particular are a haven for child molesters.

 

[Planogirl]

Walt Disney World is part of the real world. We tend to believe it's somehow different but it really isn't as least as far as the public goes. We unfortunately have to be careful wherever we go.

A 13 year old is certainly old enough to swim alone and his father was apparently watching him. I don't know what else could have been done from what I read. I agree that the blame is being misplaced by some people.

 

[bigbear]

Very true. Unfortunately I made the mistake of being too over-protective and now I see it wasn't the right thing to do. My daughter is 14 years old but looks much older but has many fears because of all the things I was afraid of happening to her.

I still have a hard time letting her do things on her own and worry all the time, but I also see the damage I have done, so please don't make the same mistake I did, it is very hard to erase their fears after you drilled it into them too much. I thought I was doing the right thing to keep her safe, but yoiu really have to do it the right way and have a balance.

I know I may have given you TMI, but I thought I would tell my story so other parents don't go over the top the way I did.

Unfortunately there are many sick people that would hurt kids, but we still have to let them live. Easier said then done. For me anyway.

You are absolutely right, we need to make sure our teens are aware of what is going on around them so that when they are on their own, which at some point in life they will have to be, they know how to avoid dangerous situations or how best to deal with the unavoidable. I could easily have been over-protective with my daughter, now 19 and with more sense than me, but I knew I must play a careful balancing act for HER sake. We should always know where teens are but if we put them in a bubble we run the risk of leaving them without the ability to deal with life when they need to. Fortunately my daughter is one of the most well-rounded adults I know, just hoping my son (14) turns out the same.

 

[chell]

Sorry, I didn't know the father saw what happened as a link to the article wasn't posted and I didn't see it until this morning. Again, I wasn't blaming anyone but the perv. Someone else said it better than me by saying we have a false sense of security at Disney just because it is Disney. I think I was more bothered by the OP wanting to cancel their trip over this incident, but didn't know how to say that properly.

Sorry that what I said came across the wrong way. Again, I wasn't trying to put ANY blame on the child or his parents. I was trying to get across to the OP and anyone else who shares her feelings that Disney is still a part of the real world.

My brain isn't working well this week.

 

[brutus]

Where the hell are the kids parents while he is being groped?????? I don't understand.

WHAT??? He's 13. My 13 year old son is old enough to go to the wave pool on his own...in fact he did. He had a blast. How many 13 year old boys (add in 12 & 14) play in the wave pool at TL everday??? My guess is the # is pretty large. It's not the parents fault...that's nuts. This isn't a 6 year old little boy. This is a teenager, less than 2 years from driving a car, getting a summer job and going on dates.

 

[ZiPaD3doDAH]

I hate when people think that nothing bad will happen at Disney.

Just because it's Disney does not mean sicko's will go to the park and try to moleste someone or that a burguler will try to steal something at the store.

These types of people need to realize that Disney is not protected by this big bubble and that nothing bad will happen inside that bubble.

As for cancelling your trip over something like this, that is just absurd. Like I said, you can't think that disney is a safe place. no where in this world is safe from these type of sick people. Just keep an eye on your kid as you would when you go to the mall or to a store. Same concept.

As for blaming the kids parents thats ridiculous. He is old enough, he is 13. It's not like he is 4.

 

[Bagheera23608]

I can't get over how willing people are to cancel their trips to WDW.... Do you people really think these things ONLY happen at WDW? I've said it before and I guess I have to say it again; This sick stuff happens EVERYWHERE not just WDW. It makes NATIONAL news BECAUSE it happens at WDW and the media knows that people just feed off this stuff.

This happens everywhere - water parks, parks, pizza places, the movies, schools and even (*gasp*) churches. Not just at WDW water parks. Those are just the ones you hear about.

This should never happen to any child (or adult!) of any age, but most of the time, you can't tell a perv just by looking at them.

 

[DisneyWisher]

The predator had been estranged from his son (I think he's 15), but the son wasn't doing well in school so the mother thought it was a good idea to have the kid spend some time with his father.

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/51040787.html

I don't think he was the father since he is 29 himself. Probably the mom's boyfriend. How sad for both children. I hope they make sure that both boys see someone to help them realise that this is not their fault.

For parents if there is anything that we should do its to teach our kids about their personal space. That if anyone invades it or makes us uncomfortable get LOUD, shout "excuse me, you are in my space". Draw the attention of others to what is happening. Also lets help by watching and reporting any activity that doesn't seem right.

 

[JerseyMamaBear]

Also lets help by watching and reporting any activity that doesn't seem right.

Well said!

 

[Serenity1207]

I'm sorry, but if my husband saw someone grab OUR 13-year old son, that man would be floating face down in the wave pool!! KWIM Hope the kid doesn't suffer any long term issues.

 

[mum4jenn]

We just came back from Orlando and WESH also reported that when this last guy confessed, he also wanted to write each boy an apology letter.THAT is sick..mess with the boys physically and then mentally!!

 

[eliza61]

I am the OP and made the comment about being ready to cancel my trip. I made this comment not just based on this incident but there have been at least 2 reported in the last week or two also at the water parks. I guess I had a false sense of security at WDW. When I have gone before with my son he was 12,14 and 16. He never went off on his own until he was 16 and he was 6 feet tall then so I felt pretty safe. I am thankful the perv was caught so quickly and I do feel sorry for the boys involved. But it sounds like the water parks in particular are a haven for child molesters.

Actually as some one else said, most children are sexually assualted in their homes or schools by people they know. These stories catch the media's attention because it's disneyworld. Water parks are no more "unsafe", then DTD, the Magic Kingdom or Ocean city NJ.

Take a deep breath, keep a close eye on all loved ones and remember that Disney is a theme park smack dab in the middle of real life.

We have the hopper and plus option on our tickets for our August trip and plan to enjoy the water parks. We will simply be a bit more vigilant and give our kids another pep talk about strangers and finding help.

If we start hiding, then the sickos win. We need to find them when they strike (my idea of justice is to beat the living hell outta them but this is a family forum. ) and let them know in the strongest way possible that they will not get away with hurting our kids.