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No Bond For Suspect In Water Park Sex Crime

Posted: 6:19 am EDT July 17, 2009Updated: 6:55 pm EDT July 17, 2009

It's the fifth sex crime at a Central Florida water park in just the past month. The latest suspect is in jail right now and that's where he'll stay.

Detectives say 29-year-old David Thomas touched at least five boys inside Disney's Typhoon Lagoon on Thursday, but that's not the only water park where this has been happening. There have been similar incidents at Aquatica and Wet 'n' Wild.

The latest suspect was told Friday he will not be able to bond out of jail. He's from Mountlake Terrace, Washington and the judge did not feel comfortable releasing him.


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"He was in the wave pool and a father saw him touch a little boy on the butt," said Sgt Rich Mankewich, Orange County Sheriff's Office.

Eyewitness News found out from deputies that Thomas is in Orlando on vacation from Seattle with a 15-year-old boy who lives with him. The boy also claims Thomas molested him this week and more times than he can remember over the last five years. Thomas is friends with the boy's mother.

"She didn't even know he was here at Disney World. The 15-year-old has been living with Thomas for the past year," Mankewich said.

The crime has now prompted new action from Disney, which is increasing law enforcement and security in the water park. Disney's Typhoon Lagoon will have a lot more eyes watching the water starting immediately.

SUSPECT IN CUSTODY
See Images | Raw Video

The increase in security comes after the arrest of Thomas, who is not just accused of grabbing several young boys in the wave pool but also a boy he was traveling with.

"People at that stage shouldn't be allowed out, because if they've done it once they're gong to do it again," water park visitor Jesus Alvarez said.

Eyewitness News went to Typhoon Lagoon to see what parents and Disney are dealing with in protecting kids. The fifth incident in a month wasn't keeping anyone away; it was wall to wall people Friday. Quite a few were getting tangled up and bouncing off each other innocently all the time.

There were plenty of lifeguards and security, but some people are considering their safety more now.

"Makes you second guess the security at the parks. There is kids running around everywhere and parents feel that they are safe because it's a family park," water park visitor Nikki Ferguson said.

Disney on Friday called the incidents a "broader societal issue" and said the park is focused on deterring: "This arrest sends a clear message this behavior will not be tolerated here. We will continue to work closely with law enforcement. Unfortunately, this is a societal problem. Our efforts are focused on identifying inappropriate behavior and reporting it to proper authorities. Our Cast Members have followed the appropriate protocols and will continue to coordinate with law enforcement."

But the park isn't sharing the details of exactly how increased security will work.

Orange County sheriff's deputies confiscated Thomas' belongings. He was staying at the Caribbean Beach Hotel.

The 15-year-old who was with Thomas has been turned over to the Department of Children and Families (DCF). They are contacting his mother.


RECENT WATER PARK SEX CRIMES

David Thomas is the fourth person to be arrested recently for a sex crime at a local water park.

The first was Joshua Fuentes. Three girls say he touched them in the wave pool at SeaWorld's Aquatica.

Then Robert Double, Jr. was arrested at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon. A 15-year-old said he grabbed her in the wave pool there.

Earlier this week, Bradford Biggers was arrested, again at Typhoon Lagoon. He was accused of exposing himself to a child.

In late June, a 14-year-old girl said she was sexually assaulted at Wet 'n' Wild, but no one's been arrested in that case.

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