Rochester Man Charged with Sexual Abuse of Minor on High Seas

ROCHESTER, NY—Lucas George Wickes, 24, of Rochester, New York, was charged with the felony offenses of aggravated sexual abuse and sexual abuse of a minor on the high seas, United States Attorney Kathleen M. Mehltretter of the Western District of New York announced today. Aggravated sexual abuse of a minor carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 30 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life and a fine of $250,000. Sexual abuse of a minor carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany H. Lee stated that according to the criminal complaint, on or about December 31, 2006, a 13-year-old female boarded a cruise ship departing from Port Canaveral, Florida to embark on a cruise with her family. In the early morning hours of January 1, 2007, after attending the teen nightclub, the female was walking around the decks with a couple of other teenagers when they were approached by the defendant who indicated that they should be returning to their cabins. The female followed defendant who took her to another deck and then forced her to take her pants off and perform oral sex on him, threatening to throw her overboard if she screamed.

The next court appearance is in October 16, 2009 in front of United States Magistrate Judge Jonathon Feldman. This defendant has been released on conditions including home detention w/GPS monitoring.

The arrest was the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James Robertson, and the United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida, under the direction of U.S. Attorney A. Brian Albritton.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.