BRIEF: Jacksonville man guilty of cruise ship sexual abuse in February

July 19--A 23-year-old Jacksonville man was found guilty Wednesday of aggravated sexual abuse by force after a young woman with special needs was sexually abused late Feb. 27 aboard the locally-ported Carnival Elation cruise ship while on a trip to the Bahamas, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Brian James Holland faces a maximum of life in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. His sentencing hearing is set for Oct. 22.

The young woman said she was in the ship's Jacuzzi when Holland repeatedly tried to put his arm around her, according to the federal complaint. She moved away, but he became more aggressive and forcefully touched her sexually under her bathing suit. Two others in the hot tub corroborated what the victim said.

The woman reported the incident to her family, who told ship security. Shipboard medical personnel examined her and found abrasions consistent with what was reported, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Authorities were waiting at Jacksonville's cruise ship terminal when the ship returned to port in early March and arrested Holland.

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