In todya’s Miami herald there appears an article about a case in which a teen girl was allgedly raped by two males, one adult, and one teen.  This case has startling similarities to cases we have handled in the past.  One particular case from about a year ago comes immediately to mind.  Here is a blurb from the Miami Herald story:

A teenager said she was raped by two passengers while aboard a Port Everglades-based cruise ship, lured from a teen dance club to a private room in the wee hours of the morning.A teenage boy and a young man were arrested at Port Everglades on Tuesday. Both live in Brazil, but are being held in Broward County.The teen and her family, who live in Iowa, set sail from Fort Lauderdale on Christmas for a 10-day cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas. The ship called at ports in St. Thomas, St. Maarten, St. Kitts and Haiti. The teen told authorities that on the last night aboard she had gone to a teen club called Fuel, and at about 1:45 a.m. was invited to a party by a 15-year-old boy. She said she thought she would be meeting friends in his private room, but said that when she got inside, another man was present, and the two would not allow her to leave.

Source:  http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/01/04/2573948/teen-man-charged-after-girl-15.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy

These kinds of cases happen far more often than people think.  If you, or anyone you know, has had something like this happen.  Call us immediately!

Remember Dylan Cole Bloodsworth?  He is the Mississippi teenager who was arrested for sexually assaulting a 13 year old girl in March aboard Carnival Cruise Lines ship “Elation.”  Bloodsworth, who was 19 at the time of the incident, has pleaded guilty to the charge, and a federal judge has just handed him a stiff sentence.

In case you are unfamiliar with Bloodsworth, in March 2011, while sailing on the Elation, he met a 13 year old girl while on the ship.  He convinced her to go with him back to his room, saying he needed to get his coat.  Once in his room Bloodsworth forced the girl to have sex with him.

Because the crime occurred aboard a cruise ship, the case was heard in federal court.  The case was heard by U.S. District Judge William Steele.  Noting that Bloodsworth is currently facing additional charges in a case in which he forced a different 13 year old girl to have sex with him, Judge Steel called Bloodsworth “a serial rapist” who preys on underage girls.

The judge sentenced Bloodsworth to 10 years in prison and ordered that he spend the rest of his life under supervision by the U.S. Probation Office.

Though Bloodsworth is currently sentenced in the federal case, he still faces charges in the state case.  He is accused of meeting the second girl online, shortly before he took the cruise.  Bloodsworth is alleged to have gone to the girl’s house uninvited, where he tried to kiss her.  Later, he allegedly threatened to kill the girl and her family if she did not meet him in an isolated spot.  When she complied, he is alleged to have raped her.

After sentencing on Tuesday Bloodsworth apologized saying “I know what I did was wrong,” adding “And I want to make things right.”

Primary source: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/11/17/19-year-old-sentenced-in-Carnival-assault/UPI-40241321555608/#ixzz1dzcDsgbD

We have spent the last several days profiling the victims of cruise ship sexual assault.  These stories are important to hear because through becoming familiar with these examples people can better protect themselves.  But, what about the perpetrator?  What causes a person to victimize another person in such a manner?  Are some people predisposed to become sexual predators? What are some of the characteristics of sexual predators?  It is important that not only victims get help, but also those who have been sexual predators, or who are heading down that path.  Here are some of the characteristics of sexual predators.

1. Many sexual predators were molested when they were children.   If you know a child who is being, or has been sexually abused, be sure they get help immediately.  Researchers say that the majority of sexual predators were sexually assaulted themselves at some point early in life.
2. Many sexual predators felt a lack of love as children. During an interview with a sexual predator that had victimized over 1000 children, he remembered the first time he was caught in sexual contact with another boy when he was a child.  His mother, usually very emotionless, was very upset when she caught him and took him to the washroom to “wash off the filth.”  This gave the boy a strange sense of pleasure – seeing his mother get upset.
3. Many predators were social outcasts during their early years.  Though there are no clear cut links between being a social outcast and becoming a sexual predator, it is clear that properly socializing a child early on is very important.  Many sexual predators never felt like part of the community as young people.
4. Most of the time, the sexual predator knows the victim. We don’t want to create a suspicion filled world, but it is very important to monitor those people that you allow around yourself and your children.  The vast majority of sexual assaults are perpetrated by an acquaintance of the victim.
5. Very often the sexual predators are married. Sexual predators are not necessarily weird guys that can’t get a date.  Very often they are married.

There is no 100% fool-proof way to avoid sexual predators.  But, knowing the warning signs, we can help those at risk get help, and avoid those that would prey on the public.

Primary Source: http://www.drphil.com/articles/article/266