On Saturday, St. Cloud Police arrested the man who captains the Toho River Boat Adventures and his girlfriend after a report that they had sexual relations with a 17-year-old company employee living with them.
Richard Lawrence, 38, and Frances Fernandez, 30, were arrested and charged with sexual battery on a victim between 12-17 years of age and aggravated child abuse. Both are currently held at the Osceola County Jail without bond.
The investigation into Lawrence, listed as the manager of the riverboat operation, began Friday, when another boat company employee called police to report a sexual battery. That employee noted Lawrence had a history of making inappropriate comments to female employees, and hugging and rubbing the 17-year-old victim’s lower back at work.
That employee also noted the victim said “our boss” had gained legal custody of her and made sexual advances toward her on a ride home. Police interviewed the victim, who said she had sex with Lawrence “about 20 times since October, when she got hired,” per an arrest affidavit, including episodes that included Fernandez. The victim also advised Lawrence had given her alcohol on three occasions.
Lawrence and Fernandez were detained on Saturday near the boat basin at the St. Cloud Lakefront. While Fernandez was interviewed and told police, per the affidavit, that she knew Lawrence had had sex with the victim and detailed an encounter they’d had all together, Lawrence denied to detectives ever having intercourse with the victim.
“He would sleep all night in (victim’s name redacted) room sometimes to console her. One night all of the individuals slept together but did not have sex,” the report states Lawrence told detectives.
Lawrence and Fernandez, listed as “Captain Stitch” and “First Mate Kitty” on the tour line’s website, made initial appearances in front of a judge Sunday.
The website also lists four deck hands and a marketing manager among the “crew”. The phone number listed with the tour company went unanswered Monday, when cruises could still be booked for that night’s and weekend cruises. A sign at the boat basin posted Saturday read, "The cruise is canceled due to emergency," and that "reschedule or refund will be provided".
This is a developing story. Check back for details at AroundOsceola.com.
