Police Arrest Texas Man Accused of Raping Woman on Royal Caribbean Cruise
A Texas man has been arrested in Florida after being accused of raping a woman aboard the Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas cruise ship. The suspect, identified as 28-year-old Juan Campos, was taken into custody when the ship docked at Port Everglades over the weekend. The alleged assault occurred mid-cruise on August 28, according to reports.
The accuser, a 20-year-old woman, told authorities that Campos attacked her during the voyage. She claimed that he penetrated her against her will with an unknown object, despite her pushing him away and telling him to stop, saying, “it hurts,” according to the arrest report. She further alleged that Campos tried to force her into performing oral sex and attempted to penetrate her again when she refused.
Campos, originally from Houston and coming from a law enforcement family, was removed from the ship upon arrival in Florida and remains in custody at the Broward County Main Jail. His attorney, Ed Hoeg, insists that the encounter was consensual and that Campos stopped when asked. “It was a normal cruise,” Hoeg stated. “He was with friends, they met some people on board, and next thing you know, he’s charged with this crime. It sounds like they were making out, and when the lady said ‘Stop,’ he stopped.”
The arrest of Campos has sent shockwaves through his family, who are reportedly stunned by the accusations. Hoeg emphasized that Campos has no prior criminal history and that his family is “shocked by the allegations.”
A judge set Campos’ bond at $20,000, but as of now, he remains behind bars in Broward County. The case is still under investigation, with local law enforcement and federal authorities involved due to the international nature of the crime, which occurred in waters outside U.S. jurisdiction.
This incident has drawn renewed attention to the issue of sexual assaults on cruise ships, following a high-profile legal case in which a woman who accused a Carnival crew member of raping her during a 2018 cruise was recently awarded over $12 million in damages. The victim in that case alleged that the crew member lured her into a closet aboard the Carnival Miracle and assaulted her. Though jurors initially awarded her $10 million, Carnival’s legal battles resulted in an additional $2 million being added to the verdict.
As the Campos case unfolds, questions about safety protocols and the handling of sexual assault reports on cruise ships remain at the forefront. Royal Caribbean has issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to the safety and well-being of all passengers, promising full cooperation with the authorities throughout the investigation.
Crimes at sea, particularly those occurring in international waters, present unique challenges in terms of jurisdiction and enforcement, placing the cruise industry under increasing pressure to ensure that such incidents are dealt with swiftly and transparently.
