24 February 2011 by Henry Pierson Curtis, Orlando Sentinel
A Walt Disney World employee is accused of raping a single mother he lured to Central Florida with offers of free theme-park passes and bargain accommodations at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
Reservations clerk Wilbert "B.J." Brookins, 31, was charged with sexual battery Wednesday, a day after the woman and her two young children arrived from out of state to celebrate her birthday with a family vacation, records state.
The woman accused him of raping her Tuesday evening.
The alleged rape happened after he took her and her children on a free tour of the Magic Kingdom, according to arrest records.
Disney spokeswoman Andrea Finger said Thursday that Brookins had been placed on unpaid leave pending the outcome of the criminal investigation.
The sheriff's sex-crimes unit is trying to determine if Brookins used his "Friends and Family" discount to book bargain-rate rooms for other women and used his employee pass to provide them with free admission to Disney theme parks.
"Our investigation into Mr. Brookins is looking into whether he has made similar offers to other guests," sheriff's spokesman Jim Solomons said Thursday afternoon. "We want to make sure there are no other victims."
The woman first encountered Brookins two to three weeks ago when she called Walt Disney World reservations to inquire about the costs of hotel reservations and theme-park tickets, according to the sheriff's office.
Brookins handled her call. After hearing she was unemployed and spending her income-tax refund check to take her children on vacation, Brookins sent her a text message telling her not to make a reservation because he would book her room under a "Friends and Family" discount, records state.
Brookins subsequently told the woman he was raised by a single mother and understood what it was like to want things and "had a lot of respect for women," records state. He also promised her there was nothing improper about his offer.
The woman "made a point to tell BJ that she was not willing to trade sexual favors for what he was doing," the report stated. "BJ replied that he 'wouldn't dare think of that."
The family arrived Tuesday afternoon at Walt Disney World after driving all night to reach Central Florida. Her hometown was not released.
Brookins told her to check into the Caribbean Beach Resort under his name, claiming that was the only way she could receive the discount. But she later told him she checked in by herself without any problems.
After helping the family settle in their room, Brookins took the woman and her children on a free tour of the Magic Kingdom, saying he wanted to show her around the theme park to celebrate her birthday, records state.
While riding the park's indoor rollercoaster Space Mountain, the woman told Brookins she hurt her back and wanted to return to the room with her children. He drove them to the hotel and insisted on staying in the room, despite her claims of being tired. He didn't respond to "her hints for him to go," the report stated.
"She closed her eyes and must have fallen asleep because she felt BJ trying to pull her pants down," the arrest report stated.
The woman told Brookins to leave but he declined and she fell asleep. Again, Brookins tried to disrobe her but stopped when she awoke, the report said. A short while later, she felt Brookins sexually assaulting her, the report stated.
Brookins finally left after throwing something in the room and saying, "See you tomorrow!" The woman said she discovered he took $40, her debit card and the key to the family's room, the report stated.
On Wednesday, Brookins showed up with his son at the woman's room and claimed he found the missing debit card in his car.
He then took the woman and her family to Epcot, but left them after signing them in free under his Disney pass, the report stated.
The woman later called the sheriff's office and provided investigators with all of the text messages Brookins sent her, the report stated.
Brookins remains in the Orange County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail.
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