In a shocking incident, a crew member from Celebrity Cruise has been arrested for allegedly molesting children in the ship’s youth center during a weeklong trip from Florida to the Caribbean Islands. The accused, Cris John Pentinio Castor, a civilian from the Philippines, was charged in federal court with abusive sexual contact of a minor under 12.
According to an FBI affidavit, a 6-year-old girl revealed that Castor had touched her “private parts” under her clothes while she played video games in the youth center. The affidavit further states that Castor deliberately hid his actions from the center’s cameras, making it difficult to capture the contact directly. However, the footage obtained by the FBI shows Castor’s hand reaching into the victim’s lap, in the vicinity of her vaginal area, confirming the minor’s statement.
The incident took place on November 27, while the Celebrity Silhouette was sailing to several Caribbean islands. The ship departed from Florida on November 20 and returned to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on November 30. It was during this time that law enforcement approached Castor regarding the girl’s accusations, leading to his subsequent arrest.
Shockingly, Castor confessed to investigators that he had not only touched the girl but had also inappropriately touched at least three other children in the youth center, including “skin-to-skin contact.” He admitted to consciously hiding his acts from the security cameras in the youth center. Celebrity Cruise, upon learning of the allegations, promptly fired Castor and stated that they have a zero-tolerance policy for such behavior. The company has reported the incident to law enforcement and assured full cooperation with the authorities.
Castor’s public defender has not responded to requests for comment, and Celebrity Cruise has declined to provide details about their vetting and hiring process. Castor is scheduled to appear in court for a bond hearing on Friday and a preliminary hearing on December 15.
This disturbing incident highlights the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of children on cruise ships. It raises questions about the screening and supervision of crew members who interact with young passengers. Authorities and cruise companies must take immediate steps to prevent such incidents in the future and provide a secure environment for all passengers, especially children.
