In the family playground of the world, Orlando, a CNN investigation finds dozens of theme park employees have been arrested in child sex stings off site and after hours.
Aired on CNN Anderson Cooper’s AC360 on Monday, the 6-month investigation revealed that 35 Disney employees have been arrested since 2006 and accused of sex crimes involving children, trying to meet a minor for sex, or for possession of child pornography.
Five Universal Studios employees and two employees from SeaWorld have also been arrested, according to the investigation.
So far, a total of 32 people have been convicted, with the remaining cases pending.
The Disney employees caught in the police sex stings range from security guards, a gift shop employee to maintenance workers, the investigation also revealed.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, whose undercover detectives have conducted several of the stings, said to CNN:
“Where ever you find children, you’ll find sexual predators that want to be there.”
Disney, Universal Studios and SeaWorld all issued statements to CNN indicating that, the responsibility of providing a safe environment for children and families is a top priority and thorough background checks are undertaken as part of the hiring process.
None of the arrestees had a prior history of sex crimes before they were hired, the investigation found.
Read the full CNN investigation here.
