A suspected sexual assault of a minor on board a cruise ship has been forwarded to the Ketchikan District Attorney for review.
According to Alaska State Troopers, the alleged incident occurred on board the Celebrity Century cruise ship while still in Alaska waters after the ship left Ketchikan on June 28.
The report claims that a 12-year-old Canadian girl was groped by a 30-year-old Japanese man. The alleged incident occurred while the girl and her friend were walking near the ship’s pool.
The ship security office heard about it first, and the matter then was investigated by Vancouver Police Department, who then notified the FBI in Juneau. The FBI then sent the information on to troopers, and it then landed in the DA’s office.
Trooper Spokeswoman Megan Peters said that no one is in custody at this time.
“In cases where charges are referred to the district attorney, it means that the allegations have been documented, and whatever evidence affiliated with the case is given to the DA’s office and the DA’s office will review it and they’ll make a determination if charges should move forward into the court system,” she explained.
Peters said that the suspect’s name would not be released unless he is charged with a crime.
