A 72-year-old from Rhode Island has been accused of sexually abusing a child in a lazy river at an Orlando, Florida, resort, according to reporting from the Miami Herald.
William Francis Chatel faces charges of lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim under 12 years of age.
The first incident happened on March 9 when the girl said a man, later identified by police as Chattel, came up to the child and assaulted her at least twice over the course of her family’s stay at the resort, reporters said in the article. The child later reported the incidents to a parent who allegedly filmed him attempting to swim up to two other unaccompanied children in the lazy river.
Officials with the resort said in a statement to media that they are cooperating with law enforcement and that Chattel is “no longer welcome” at the property.
Chatel was charged Tuesday. As of Thursday, he was no longer in custody at the Orange County jail.
Leesfield & Partners
In nearly five decades of personal injury law, Leesfield & Partners has had the opportunity to represent numerous victims and survivors throughout devastating sexual assault cases. Our attorneys treat each client with the dignity and respect they deserve, advocating tirelessly to achieve the best possible outcome in their case. The firm has gone up against hotels, resorts, schools, daycare facilities, cruise ships and more in its years of litigating these types of cases. While no monetary amount can make up for the damage that has been done to these individuals, acknowledgement of the horrors they have endured and the wrongs that were committed against them can be a necessary step in the healing process.
Following decades of handling sexual assault cases, Ira Leesfield, the Founder and Managing Partner of Leesfield & Partners, has routinely seen the positive effects that organizations dedicated to preventing sexual assault and helping those who are victims and survivors. Through his charitable organization, The Leesfield Family Foundation, Mr. Leesfield has made regular contributions to such organizations such as Kristi House, Voices for Children, and other organizations.
The Foundation, which primarily focuses on women’s and children’s issues, recently pledged 2025 contributions to the efforts of Lawyers for Children America, an organization that advocates for children who have been abused, abandoned and/or neglected. Mr. Leesfield’s involvement with LFCA spans almost a decade ago when he was honored with their Janet Reno Outstanding Community Partner Award.
The Foundation has also previously worked with Amigos for Kids, The Fatherhood Task Force of South Florida and The Melissa Institute for Violence Prevention and Treatment.
Previous Cases
The firm obtained an $8.6 million recovery for a minor who was being sexually abused by a counselor at a well-known Florida summer camp. Instead of detecting odd behaviors that should have been obvious indicators to camp officials that something was wrong, they ignored these signs and allowed the abuse to continue.
A multi-million-dollar recovery was obtained for the male students of a teacher at a well-respected Florida high school after the school allowed this teacher access to the children, who he repeatedly sexually abused.
In a case involving an unaccompanied minor who was abused by a passenger on an airplane, Leesfield & Partners obtained a confidential settlement. The minor in that case was meant to be watched over by the airline’s flight attendants who failed to properly supervise and protect the child.
The firm obtained a $650,000 recovery in a case involving a youth center that failed to properly supervise the children in their care.
Hotel and Other Vacation Accommodations
Partner Justin B. Shapiro expertly secured a $16 million settlement for a husband and wife who were savagely beaten at a Florida hotel. In the attack, the wife was raped and sexually assaulted. The horrific incident was witnessed by hotel employees and security who did nothing to intervene.
The man was allowed to enter the property and traveled up the elevator to the couple’s room, all without being questioned. The attack that ensued was grotesque, grisly and preventable had hotel officials only heeded the advice of hiring armed security, which was given to them by police and two security companies. That advice was given following the hotel’s long history of gun violence and other crimes. This advice, however, was ignored so that the hotel could save money.
A Canadian tourist who was traveling on a cruise ship was assaulted by a member of the crew with access to her cabin via an employee keycard. This crew member abused his employee status to gain entry into the woman’s room and attacked her.
Leesfield & Partners obtained a confidential settlement for the woman in that case.
In an ongoing case being handled by Trial Attorney Bernardo Pimentel II,
In a case involving a Monroe County hotel, the firm obtained a $1 million recovery for an employee who was raped on the property. In that case, a man, who was not a guest, was allowed to roam the property. Our client, who was doing her job as normal, was cornered in a room on the property and attacked.
If you or a loved one were affected by sexual assault, help can be found by calling the National Sexual Assault Hotline for support at 1-800-656-4673.
If you or a loved one were affected by sexual assault and are interested in making a claim, don’t wait. Call a Leesfield & Partners attorney for a free consultation at 800-836-6400 or 305-854-4900.