A 20-year-old Brazilian man is being held in Broward County after allegedly committing sexual assault aboard a cruise ship. The incident happened on the final day of a holiday cruise, when a 15-year-old girl says the man - and his 15-year-old accomplice - coerced her to go to a private room where they allegedly raped her.

The man was denied reduced bail by a Broward County judge, and the rape case will be heard again on January 13. The 20-year-old man had the support of his parents who were in court to vouch for their son, but the judge was not ready to hear from witnesses at the most recent court appearance. According to his attorney, the man has no history of criminal activity and his family is well-respected in the city of Sao Paulo.

The 20-year-old faces lewd and lascivious battery on a victim younger than 16 and older than 12, a second-degree felony. He was denied his bail request because the judge labeled him a flight risk, even though his family owns a house in Miami-Dade County. If he were to be indicted on the alleged crime, the penalty carries a maximum of 15 years in prison. The 20-year-old denies the rape accusations.

Obviously the consequences of such a crime are severe, but the charges don't seem to fit a man who has no criminal background. Another thing to consider in this case is the 15-year-old accomplice - how involved was he in the alleged rape? Few details were released on the boy who has been detained at the Juvenile Assessment Center.

Source: Orlando Sentinel, "Suspect in cruise ship rape asks Broward judge to set low bail," Rafael A. Olmeda, Jan. 10, 2012