Fishing Vessel Crew Member Arrested, Charged With Sexual Harassment

Alexandra Gutierrez, KUCB – UnalaskaA crew member on the fishing vessel Frontier Explorer has been charged with sexual harassment and sexual assault of a National Marine Fisheries Service observer.Victor Chavez-Ramirez, 28, was arrested on Thursday in Unalaska by NOAA special agents, and his arraignment took place on Monday. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Skrock alleged that Chavez-Ramirez verbally harassed and groped a NMFS observer while aboard the vessel Frontier Spirit from August to October 2008.The harassment and assault also impeded the NMFS observer’s ability to monitor bycatch and collect data – another criminal offense for which Chavez-Ramirez is being charged.Skrocki says that while the harassment and assault were alleged to have taken place two years ago, the observer approached law enforcement only recently.Download Audio (MP3)