A Canadian woman (mother-of-three) is jailed after she allegedly had sex with a minor (15-year-old) in the bathroom on a voyage to the Bahamas.
The 23-year-old Karine Gagne was on NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line ship with her co-workers at a company selling adult-themed products when she met the teen at a bar and casino area on the boat.
Shortly after meeting the teen, who was reportedly a 6ft 1in American with a beard, Gagne allegedly had sex with him in the bathroom. The teen's mother was present at the bar when she saw her son exit the bathroom with Gagne and immediately called the police.
Bahamian law states that a 15-year-old can't legally consent to sexual intercourse. Gagne was arrested on January 5 and has been charged with sexual assault against a minor. She has been in jail in the Bahamas for the last 2 weeks. Chantale Auclair, Gagne's mother, said the teen had lied to her daughter about his age.
'She asked him how old he was and he told her was he was 18,' Auclair told The Canadian Press.
Auclair said Gagne told her the two had met at the bar while the ship was docked in Great Stirrup Cay. They began to chat and danced together.
'At one point, it went further,' Auclair said. 'They went to the bathroom and they did what they wanted to do.'
Gagne had been on the cruise with her co-workers and manager to celebrate reaching sales objectives at their company, according to the Brantford Expositor.
The American teen reportedly pleaded for his mother not to report Gagne to authorities.
Auclair flew to the Bahamas to see her daughter and said they were only able to speak together for about an hour.
Auclair said Gagne is especially worried about her daughters, who are aged three, four, and five. They are currently back in Quebec.
Auclair is now raising funds to pay for legal costs, possible bail and a plane ticket home for her daughter, who she said works two jobs.
The mother said it remains unknown how the teenage boy was able to enter an area reserved for those aged 18 and up on the NCL ship.
Gagne could face up to 7 years in prison if convicted.
UPDATE: March 23, 2017 The Bahamas abandoned pursuing the sexual assault charges against Ms Gagne.