Orlando is the small city in Florida where a kid’s big dreams can come true. It’s also every kids’ magic kingdom because it’s home to Walt Disney World, Sea World, and Universal Studios. According to a recent six-month CNN investigation, Orlando is also where many sex offenders’ dreams are realized.
At least 35 theme park employees from various locations in Orlando and its surrounding areas have been arrested on child pornography charges. In a place where children are usually present, there are always the creeps that want a little more than to just be friendly. The CNN report brought child porn and child sex offenders to light.
Now, 35 employees between all three parks may not sound like a lot, especially since the Disney parks alone have 70,000 employees, but one sex offender is too many. These pedophiles have been arrested on many different charges surrounding child pornography, including meeting with underage kids for sex, possessing child pornography, possessing child pornography at work, and engaging in explicit sexual chats online with a minor.
Some of the individual cases seem unreal …
[Image: Disney]
Cedric Cuthbert, who was arrested last year and sentenced to six years in prison, was also a pastor and the night shift custodial manager at Disney’s Port Orleans resort. He was caught downloading child porn to his work computer — WHILE writing a sermon for his church! Disgraceful.
All of the arrests did not occur in the six-month period that CNN was investigating. The report actually contained cases dating as far back as 2006. Thirty-two of the 35 arrested have been convicted, while the other cases are still pending. Police officials involved in the cases have spoken out, saying that the parks are great places to work for stable jobs and career growth — but they can also house adults with other motives.
All the theme parks involved require employees to complete an extensive background check prior to working, but perhaps after this investigation more will be done to ensure that the number of sex offenders doesn’t continue to rise.