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Carnival Cruise Worker Charged With Molesting Boy on Ship

A Carnival Cruise line worker was arrested in central Florida after authorities say he sexually abused an underage boy on a ship.

Yovany Suazo-Batiz, 46, was charged with lewd and lascivious molestation of a child between 12 and 16 and sexual battery of a child, according to the Brevard County Sheriff.

Suazo-Batiz was taken into custody Saturday after the Carnival Valor docked at Port Canaveral. He remained behind bars on $135,000 bond Sunday. It was not known if has has hired an attorney.

The boy had been in the sauna Saturday morning when Suazo-Batiz started a conversation with him, the victim's father reported to security, authorities said. When the boy went into the shower to get away from him, the alleged assault occurred.

The victim told his father, who detained Suazo-Batiz until security arrived, deputies said. The FBI is also investigating the incident.

Suazo-Batiz, who is from Honduras, was a steward on the ship. Carnival Cruise Lines released a statement saying staff was cooperating with authorities and had provided "full support and assistance to the victim while he was on the ship.

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