Florida Man Arrested at PortMiami in Cruise Sexual Battery Case
Gray also faces a misdemeanor charge of giving alcohol to a minor; authorities did not identify the ship or cruise line involved.
A 34-year-old Florida man was arrested at PortMiami after an 18-year-old passenger accused him of raping her in his cabin aboard a cruise ship, according to a Miami-Dade County arrest affidavit. Cody Gray of Maitland faces a felony sexual battery charge and a misdemeanor charge of giving alcohol to a minor.
Ship personnel detained Gray until the vessel returned to Miami on Saturday, when Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputies took him into custody. Authorities did not identify the ship or cruise line involved.
The cruise departed PortMiami on Sept. 6. Early Saturday, while the vessel was at sea, the woman visited an onboard club and consumed one alcoholic drink before meeting Gray, the affidavit said. Investigators allege that Gray gave her three additional drinks while they socialized.
The woman told Gray at the club that she did not want to have sex with him, according to the affidavit. After she became intoxicated, the two walked to his cabin, where authorities allege the sexual battery occurred.
The affidavit said the woman was unconscious afterward when her parents were located and directed to the cabin. She later told her parents and ship personnel that she could not remember the details of what happened there but reiterated that she had “never consented to have any sexual activity” with Gray.
Gray pleaded not guilty. He appeared in bond court Sunday and was ordered held without bond pending another hearing. As of Monday, he remained at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
Guy Robinson, general counsel for the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office, said the office had no comment.
