Cops accuse New Hampshire man of rape on Miami-bound cruise

A man from New England faced a South Florida judge Tuesday on a first-degree sexual battery charge after authorities accused him of raping a woman in his cruise ship cabin off the coast of Mexico.

Deputies arrested Randy Gaul, 59, of Farmington, New Hampshire, on Saturday after the Norwegian Escape returned to PortMiami.

According to an arrest report from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, Gaul and the woman were acquaintances and shared a room on the ship. It states that the woman told detectives that she had had their beds separated by cabin staff at the start of the journey.

The report states Gaul and the woman had “consumed multiple alcoholic beverages” Wednesday night and the woman blacked out.

She said at around 1 a.m. Thursday, she woke up due to Gaul snoring and felt pain as she went to the bathroom, deputies said. The report states that the woman saw blood in her genital area and shorts while in the bathroom and, the next morning, saw blood stains on her sheets.

Detectives said she confronted Gaul about what happened and he admitted to having sex with her the previous night.

The report states after the cruise returned to South Florida, detectives took Gaul to an MDSO office in Doral and tried to interview him. They said he invoked his right to remain silent.

A Miami-Dade judge found probable cause Tuesday to charge Gaul with sexual battery on a helpless victim, ordering he be held without bond.

Jail records show he was behind bars in the Metrowest Detention Center as of Tuesday.