A Florida man has been arrested after police allege he exposed and then touched himself in front of three teen girls while in a sauna on a Celebrity cruise ship.
An arrest affidavit from the Broward Sheriff’s Office stated that Michael Henry Mullis was charged with two counts of indecent exposure in the incidents that took place on the Celebrity Eclipse ship on Saturday, March 21, according to NBC Miami.
A 17-year-old and a 16-year-old told investigators that Mullis, 39, exposed himself and started masturbating as he sat on the top bench in the sauna, per the affidavit.
Another incident took place that same day when a 19-year-old employee claimed he saw Mullis in the sauna. The employee told investigators that Mullis allegedly took off all of his clothing before he covered himself with a towel.
“Do you mind if I stroke my d**k?” Mullis allegedly asked the teenager, according to the affidavit.
After the reports were made against him, ship security took Mullis into custody. He was then transported to Broward’s main jail.
It is not currently clear if Mullis has entered a plea or retained legal representation following his arrest.
Those who are found charged with indecent exposure in the state of Florida “must have exposed your sexual organs to another person in public in a vulgar or offensive manner,” according to the Flaherty & Merrifield Criminal Defense website.
If Mullis is found guilty of indecent exposure charge, he could be ordered to pay up to $1,000 in fines, be sentenced to prison for up to one year and have his driver’s license suspended for one year.
“The accusation of a sex crime can adversely affect your life even before you have a chance to defend yourself,” according to the law firm’s website. “If convicted of this first-degree misdemeanor, you could be ordered to serve jail time and pay high fines, but you could also lose your job and your standing in the community.”
Those who are charged with indecent exposure involving a child under 16 years old will likely face even more severe punishments.
“Any indecent exposure involving a child raises the penalties significantly,” the law firm stated. “Under Florida law, lewd or lascivious exhibition is a form of child sexual abuse, even if it does not include physical or sexual contact with the victim.”
