Man accused of assaulting tourist in lift an ex-teacher

The man accused of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old British tourist in a hotel elevator in the US this week was a former middle-school teacher who recently lost his certificate for allegedly fondling a girl at another hotel.

Carl Moore, 36, of Kissimmee, had worked at Neptune Middle School in Osceola County before losing his teaching license for failing to report within 48 hours a 2002 arrest for allegedly groping a 17-year-old girl at a hotel pool, according to documents from the Florida Department of Education.

The final order for revocation was signed on February 5.

Moore has faced several child sex abuse allegations, including a September 2002 arrest for allegedly reaching under the shirt of tourist less than 12 years old in yet another hotel elevator. More recently, he was arrested on June 26 outside the same hotel after allegedly trying to hide at 3am.

Investigators say Moore is not a registered sex offender in Florida. Though the victim picked Moore out of a line-up, charges in the September 2002 arrest were dropped after she failed to show up for deposition or trial and prosecutors were forced to dismiss the case.

He was charged only with providing false identification to a police officer who responded to the June suspicious persons call.

However, after Monday’s alleged incident, Moore faces attempted sexual battery, false imprisonment and lewd molestation charges.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office arrested him late on Tuesday at a restaurant where he works less than a mile from the Enclave Suites, where Monday’s assault allegedly occurred.

Moore was being held without bond in the Orange County jail following an initial appearance yesterday afternoon. It was not known if he has an attorney.

Moore allegedly followed the girl late at night from the parking lot into the elevator, reached under her shirt and touched her through her shorts.

The girl told investigators she screamed and bit Moore’s hand when he tried to muffle her voice. She pushed the elevator alarm and escaped when its doors opened.

Investigators believe he chose her because he knew the two would be alone.

Moore was arrested after detectives watching hotel surveillance tapes recognised him, sheriff’s spokeswoman Crystal Candy said.

Again, the victim picked Moore out of a line-up, Candy said.

Authorities credited the girl’s recent self-defence training with helping her escape.