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Cruise ship assault charges
Australia.TO International Edition - www.australia.to
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JOSEPH BRUSSEL, 26, a resident of St. Louis, Missouri, pled guilty in federal court yesterday before U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon to one count of assault within the special maritime jurisdiction of the United States, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.
According to court documents, BRUSSEL was a passenger on board the Carnival Cruise Ship Fantasy, which had set sail April 5, 2008 on a cruise from New Orleans to the western Carribean. BRUSSEL had joined family members and friends as members of a wedding party on the cruise. On the second day of the cruise, BRUSSEL was in the disco lounge aboard the ship drinking wine from a glass while on the dance floor, and appeared to be intoxicated. A ship security officer advised BRUSSEL that alcohol was not allowed on the dance floor, as was stated on the posted rules in the disco. BRUSSEL became argumentative and as the officer escorted him off the dance floor, BRUSSEL struck him in the face with the wine glass, which shattered, cutting the officer in several places. As BRUSSEL attempted to flee the disco, he was arrested by other security officers in a nearby hallway.
Upon sentencing, which is scheduled for July 15, 2009, BRUSSEL faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten (10) years and is subject to a $250,0000 fine.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Peter M. Thomson.
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