Celebrity Cruises worker admits to molesting 4 children in ship's youth center: FBI
Celebrity Cruises sails into Port Canaveral
Port Canaveral will become the homeport for Celebrity Equinox next year. Celebrity Cruises is expected to make Central Florida the home for its award-winning cruise ship in November 2024. It will be the seventh major cruise line to choose the port as its home.
WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
A Celebrity Cruises crew member allegedly admitted to molesting children in the ship's youth center during a weeklong trip from Florida to the Caribbean Islands, according to an FBI affidavit.
Cris John Pentinio Castor, a Philippine civilian, allegedly touched a 6-year-old girl's "private parts" under her clothes while she played video games, the child told investigators, according to the affidavit obtained by Fox News Digital.
Castor hid his actions from the cameras in the youth center, according to the FBI affidavit, so the footage does not "capture the contact directly."
However, the footage "is consistent with the minor victim's statement and shows Castor's hand reaching into (the victim's) lap, in the vicinity of her vaginal area," on Nov. 27, the affidavit alleges.
The Celebrity Silhouette departed from Florida on Nov. 20 and sailed to several Caribbean islands and returned to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Nov. 30.
Cris John Pentinio Castor was charged in federal court with abusive sexual contact of a minor under 12 while working as a youth counselor for Celebrity Cruise, which said Castor has since been fired. (U.S. Marshals )
That was when Castor was approached by law enforcement about the girl's accusations and was arrested the next day.
He told investigators he touched the girl and admitted to inappropriately touching at least three other children, including "skin-to-skin contact" in the youth center, the affidavit alleges.
Castor admitted to sexually abusing children "on multiple occasions, while consciously hiding acts from the Youth Center's security cameras," the affidavit alleges.
Celebrity Cruises said in an emailed statement to Fox News Digital that Castor has since been fired.
"We have zero tolerance for this behavior," Celebrity Cruises said in the email. "We reported this to law enforcement and terminated the crew member, and we will continue to fully cooperate with authorities."
He was hired in August. Celebrity Cruise declined to answer questions about their vetting and hiring process.
Castor's public defender declined to comment.
Castor was charged in federal court with abusive sexual contact of a minor under 12.
He is scheduled to appear in court for a bond hearing Friday and a preliminary hearing on Dec. 15.