Disney worker charged with e-mailing child porn

March 12, 2002

A Kissimmee man who worked full time as a backstage puppeteer at Disney World was was arrested Thursday after he allegedly e-mailed child pornography to an undercover St. Lucie County sheriff's detective posing as the father of a 12-year-old boy.

Jonathan DuBois, 22, of 5259 Images Circle, Kissimmee, wrote the detective that he had sexual pictures of children as young as 6 years old, writing "I love young kiddies," according to the arrest report. DuBois also allegedly wrote that he would like to have phone sex with the detective's son, and hoped the undercover detective would bring his son and pornographic videos to visit him in Orlando.

For the past two years, DuBois had worked mostly as a backstage puppeteer for a Disney show, a role where he had no contact with guests or children, Disney spokeswoman Marilyn Waters said Monday.

Off and on over the past two years, he also has portrayed an unspecified character at the theme park. He interacted with guests in that role but was always accompanied by another cast member, Waters said. It is company policy not to reveal which characters employees play, she said.

DuBois has been suspended indefinitely, Waters said.

According to the arrest report, DuBois used a screen name of GAPBOYSBOY to e-mail pornographic pictures of young boys to the St. Lucie County detective.

He was identified when he gave his cell phone number to the detective, and gave his name so the detective could wire payment for the pictures, according to the report.

A detective for the Osceola County Sheriff's Office assisted in the arrest of DuBois on Thursday.