Steven Curl Sexually Assaulted Man At Hotel

[Whisper]

STUART, Fla. -

A hotel worker on the Treasure Coast is accused of sexually assaulting a man in one of the rooms.

In 1996, Steven Curl was convicted of sexually assaulting a teenager. He served his time, but he was arrested Tuesday on sexual assault charges again.

Police said the 58-year-old was fired from the Howard Johnson on U.S. Highway 1 in Stuart, where he worked and lives, after he allegedly assaulted an 18-year-old man.

"That's disgusting. Personally, I think that's wrong," said James Volpelletto, who lives nearby.

Volpelletto said the story hits too close to home. He said he frequents the restaurant next to the hotel and, like the victim, is also 18.

According to police reports, the victim had no place to sleep, so Curl offered to let the man stay in his hotel room and gave him alcohol. When the victim fell asleep, that's when police said Curl forcefully had sex with him.

"I would definitely be skeptical about it," Volpelletto said. "I don't think I would do it. I'd probably try to live with one of my friends. I definitely would not go into a hotel where someone lives."

The hotel manager, Michael Smith, said he has worked with Curl for 10 years. He described Curl, who worked at the front desk, as an exemplary employee who was liked by all of the guests, despite his criminal past.

"My wife and I believe people are redeemable," Smith said in a statement. "If we don't hire the felons, then we are going to have a bunch of felons running around doing more crime. They have to have some place to work."

Curl was being held without bail.

http://www.wpbf.com/news/22735481/detail.html Steven Curl Detectives Knew Of Hotel Clerk's Criminal Past STUART, Fla. --

Steven Curl's name was well-known to Stuart police long before his March 2 arrest on allegations of sexually assaulting an 18-year-old man.

Curl was listed as a sexual predator on the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's registry. His address listed him as "transient." But Stuart police knew he was living at the Howard Johnson, where he worked as a front desk clerk at the hotel.

Sgt. Bill Pecci said police tried to get Curl to live elsewhere. A new city ordinance was proposed because of the situation, but lawyers said it would be unconstitutional.

In 1996, Curl was arrested and later convicted of attacking a 12-year-old boy while in the water off the Lake Worth pier.

Police were fearful that Curl could re-offend with hotel guests unaware of his sexual predator status. Police said he did just that in the early-morning hours of Feb. 28, when he allegedly supplied an 18-year-old with alcohol and then forced himself on the man.

"History shows that sex offenders and predators re-offend and, you know, we were hoping that this wouldn't be the case," Pecci said.

Curl turned down an interview request.

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