Saturday, September 20, 2008

Man gets 30 years for molesting girl at Disney


Sarah Lundy

Sentinel Staff Writer

September 20, 2008

A 63-year-old man was sentenced Friday to 30 years in prison for molesting a girl in 2007 at a hotel on Disney World property.

Orange Circuit Court Judge Thomas A. Mihok ordered William Bishop, who has a history of lewd-behavior arrests that goes back to the 1970s, to prison.

Earlier this month, an Orange County jury found Bishop guilty of kidnapping, lewd and lascivious molestation, lewd and lascivious conduct, lewd and lascivious exhibition and use of a child in sexual performance. The incident occurred on April 27, 2007.

Lifeguards at the Swan Hotel detained Bishop after an 11-year-old boy told them that he saw the man in a Hawaiian shirt exposing himself and fondling a young girl, records show.

The victim, who lives out of state, was not in court Friday. Prosecutor Linda Drane-Burdick read a letter from her family.

If Bishop completes his time in prison -- he would be in his 90s -- he will be required to be on probation the rest of his life.

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