In a disturbing incident aboard the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Independence of the Seas, two Mexican men have been arrested for allegedly molesting a 14-year-old boy.
José Díaz, 36, and Ricardo Leal, 37, were detained by the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office on Friday after the ship returned to PortMiami. The incident took place in the sauna during the ship’s voyage.
The victim, a teenage boy, reported that he was trapped in the sauna with Díaz and Leal. According to police reports, both men exposed themselves and forced the boy into unwanted sexual acts.
Authorities say that Díaz, who is HIV positive, and Leal masturbated in front of the victim and pressured him into touching them. At one point, Leal allegedly forced the boy to perform a sex act.
After the ship returned to Miami, Díaz and Leal were immediately arrested. They are facing multiple charges, including lewd and lascivious molestation of a child.
Díaz faces an additional charge for failing to disclose his HIV status to the victim, while Leal is also charged with sexual battery.
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Both men were denied bond on Saturday, as prosecutors expressed concern over the potential for further crimes. “These defendants deliberately targeted this minor, and their actions show a disturbing pattern of behavior,” a prosecutor said.
Díaz invoked his right to counsel, while Leal insisted the acts were consensual, though authorities strongly dispute this.
Díaz and Leal are being held in separate detention centers and are also under immigration holds, as both men are in the U.S. illegally. They share the same address in Mexico City.
The case has sent shockwaves through the cruise community, raising important questions about passenger safety and protection for minors aboard cruise ships.
