A Texas man from a law enforcement family was apprehended upon arrival in Florida after being accused of sexual assault onboard a cruise ship.
Juan Campos, 28, was taken into custody when the Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas docked at Port Everglades following allegations made by a 20-year-old woman who claimed he assaulted her mid-cruise on Aug. 28, as reported by Local 10 News.
The accuser stated that Campos forcibly penetrated her with an unknown object against her will, causing her to push him away and ask him to stop, as stated in an arrest report obtained by the outlet.
The victim further alleged that Campos attempted to coerce her into performing oral sex and made another attempt to penetrate her after she refused, according to the report.
However, Campos’ attorney claimed that the encounter was consensual and emphasized that his client ceased his advances when requested.
“It was a regular cruise, he was with friends, met some people onboard, and suddenly he’s facing these allegations,” stated the attorney, Ed Hoeg, to Local 10.
“It seems like things escalated while they were making out, and when the lady said ‘Stop,’ he stopped,” Hoeg added.
Hailing from Houston and coming from a family with a law enforcement background, Campos’ relatives are reportedly stunned by the accusations, according to the attorney.
“The family attests that this individual has no criminal record, is a great person, was on vacation, and they are astounded by the claims,” Hoeg mentioned.
Following his removal from the ship, Campos remains in custody at Broward County Main Jail, where a judge set a bond of $20,000.
These accusations arise amidst a case where a woman who accused a Carnival crew member of sexual assault during a 2018 voyage was awarded over $12 million by the cruise line after a protracted legal dispute.
Judge Kathleen Williams issued the ruling last week following the victim’s claim that Carnival staff member Fredy Anggara enticed her into a closet, locked the door, and assaulted her sexually aboard the Carnival Miracle on Dec. 1, 2018, according to a complaint.
Jurors initially awarded her $10 million in 2022, and after Carnival contested the verdict, Williams added an additional $2 million, according to court documents.
Anggara was never arrested in connection with the incident and was not named as a defendant in the legal proceedings.
