Beaver Co. Man Charged With Fondling Boy During Cruise

A Beaver County man is accused of sexually abusing a young boy in a cruise ship Jacuzzi.

Federal prosecutors used surveillance video of the suspect to hold Sherwood Stevenson, 71, of Clinton for trial.

Investigators said Stevenson booked a cruise on the Liberty of the Seas in December. They said the ship was about 30 nautical miles off of Cuba when he was caught on camera sliding into a children’s Jacuzzi in the ship's soak zone.

Police said Stevenson admitted to fondling a 6-year-old boy and attempted to fondle a second child in an adjoining Jacuzzi.

Federal prosecutors said Stevenson has a criminal past with other child sexual abuse charges.

During a hearing Wednesday, prosecutors outlined a number of local incidents involving Stevenson and children.

Police said he was charged for sneaking into a boy’s locker room at Hopewell High School and taking a shower. Police said Stevenson also snuck into another locker room in Marco Island, Fla.

Stevenson's defense attorney asked for electronic monitoring, claiming her client has a long history of mental issues.

But the federal magistrate ordered Stevenson to stay in jail until his trial.

A trial date has not been set.

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