Theme-park worker jailed for child $ex
By Anthony Colarossi
January 31, 2003
ORLANDO (Orlando Sentinel) -- A greeter at Universal Studio's Spiderman ride accused of molesting a 4-year-old guest at the amusement park was sentenced to 10 years in prison after a plea deal Thursday.
In addition to the prison sentence, Circuit Judge Frederick J. Lauten gave the former Universal employee, Tanner K. Larson, 10 years of $ex-offender probation.
Larson, 23, originally was charged with $exual battery of a child and lewd and lascivious molestation of a child under age 12.
In a deal reached between the State Attorney's Office and Larson's lawyer, Marc Lubet, the molestation charge was dismissed and the other charge changed to attempted capital $exual battery. Larson pleaded no contest to the new charge.
A conviction on that charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 30 years, but both sides agreed to a 10-year sentence.
Last April, Larson was working at the theme park when a family from New York asked him to find a bathroom for the 4-year-old girl. He took the child to a men's employee bathroom. When the girl came out, she appeared upset and later told her family Larson had touched her inappropriately with his finger, according to the prosecution.
Larson later said he had been abused as a child. Universal Studios fired him immediately, Lubet said.
The popular Spiderman ride is at the park's Islands of Adventure.
In court Thursday, Larson told the judge, "I do feel sorry for any damage I may have done."
Assistant State Attorney William Brown said the child's family agreed with the plea deal. They wanted to spare the girl from going through the court process and being asked to recall the ordeal.
Lubet said his client wanted to avoid a trial on the initial charges, which could have resulted in a life sentence. "I think it was a very fair resolution, under all the circumstances," Lubet said.
By Anthony Colarossi
January 31, 2003
ORLANDO (Orlando Sentinel) -- A greeter at Universal Studio's Spiderman ride accused of molesting a 4-year-old guest at the amusement park was sentenced to 10 years in prison after a plea deal Thursday.
In addition to the prison sentence, Circuit Judge Frederick J. Lauten gave the former Universal employee, Tanner K. Larson, 10 years of $ex-offender probation.
Larson, 23, originally was charged with $exual battery of a child and lewd and lascivious molestation of a child under age 12.
In a deal reached between the State Attorney's Office and Larson's lawyer, Marc Lubet, the molestation charge was dismissed and the other charge changed to attempted capital $exual battery. Larson pleaded no contest to the new charge.
A conviction on that charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 30 years, but both sides agreed to a 10-year sentence.
Last April, Larson was working at the theme park when a family from New York asked him to find a bathroom for the 4-year-old girl. He took the child to a men's employee bathroom. When the girl came out, she appeared upset and later told her family Larson had touched her inappropriately with his finger, according to the prosecution.
Larson later said he had been abused as a child. Universal Studios fired him immediately, Lubet said.
The popular Spiderman ride is at the park's Islands of Adventure.
In court Thursday, Larson told the judge, "I do feel sorry for any damage I may have done."
Assistant State Attorney William Brown said the child's family agreed with the plea deal. They wanted to spare the girl from going through the court process and being asked to recall the ordeal.
Lubet said his client wanted to avoid a trial on the initial charges, which could have resulted in a life sentence. "I think it was a very fair resolution, under all the circumstances," Lubet said.
