{"id":109624,"date":"2026-01-07T22:30:15","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T22:30:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/109624\/"},"modified":"2026-01-07T22:30:15","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T22:30:15","slug":"boy-9-was-enjoying-florida-beach-with-his-mother-when-creepy-stranger-inflicted-every-parents-worst-nightmare-on-him","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/109624\/","title":{"rendered":"Boy, 9, was enjoying Florida beach with his mother when creepy stranger inflicted every parent’s worst nightmare on him"},"content":{"rendered":"

By ELIOT FORCE, US NEWS REPORTER<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 09:32 EST, 7 January 2026 | Updated: 09:41 EST, 7 January 2026 <\/p>\n

A mom’s worst nightmare came true on a Florida<\/a> beach after her nine-year-old son was approached by a creepy stranger.<\/p>\n

The boy was working on a coloring book sat next to his mom at Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort Hotel & Suites on December 30.<\/p>\n

Suddenly, they were approached by Curtis Smith, 47, who was visiting the area from Canada<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A witness told police that he had seen Smith and another man strike up a conversation with the mother.<\/p>\n

Smith then allegedly sexually assaulted the boy by grabbing his genitals – in plain view of the people around them.<\/p>\n

The boy then tried to get away by moving to a different table, only for Smith to allegedly follow him and grab his genitals ‘really hard’ again, according to the police report.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The nine-year-old said his mom was distracted by her computer and talking to someone so she did not notice when he tried to tell her what was happening.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When the boy told his alleged abuser to stop, Smith ‘became scared due to the people around him and walked to his hotel room,’ the arrest report stated.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"The <\/p>\n

The alleged crime took place at Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort Hotel & Suites on Ocean Boulevard<\/p>\n

\"Curtis <\/p>\n

Curtis Smith, 47, a Canadian tourist,\u00a0has been arrested for allegedly molesting a young boy in Florida<\/p>\n

One witness soon asked the boy if he knew Smith. After being told that the creepy man was a stranger, the witness followed Smith to confront him.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Canadian tourist then ‘locked himself in his room,’ according to police.<\/p>\n

When police investigated the alleged crime, the nine-year-old’s account of what happened was corroborated by several witnesses.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Smith was charged with\u00a0lewd or lascivious molestation of a victim under 12 years old by an offender 18 years or older.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He was booked into the Paul Rein Detention Facility in Fort Lauderdale, where he remains as of Wednesday and is being held without bond, according to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office arrest records.\u00a0<\/p>\n

According to Florida law, Smith’s alleged crime is a ‘life felony,’ and if convicted, he could face 25 years in prison to life in prison.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Witnesses <\/p>\n

Witnesses who were at the beachside hotel corroborated the nine-year-old boy’s account of what happened to police. The Fort Lauderdale Beach is pictured here (stock image)<\/p>\n

If convicted and not given life in prison, Smith would be on strict probation until he dies.<\/p>\n

Canada has extradition treaties with the US, meaning that he will most likely be tried and sentenced in the US according to Florida laws.<\/p>\n

It is also likely that he will be tried in Florida, because he was arrested in the state and the accusation against him is a crime in both countries.<\/p>\n

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