Originally Posted - July 17, 2006

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ORLANDO---One participant in a game of water touch football allegedly got carried away with his touching.

A fireman who was attending a firefighters' convention in Central Florida has been arrested for allegedly putting his hands down the pants of four children in a hotel swimming poll near SeaWorld.

Joseph Habib, 27, was arrested at his Broward County home Monday after four children ranging in age from 5 to 7 years old complained to their parents about Habib. The mother of one child said she observed the firefighter groping her son in the groin area while supposedly playing football in the pool. Several children were pulled from the water after a father of one child also saw Habib allegedly groping other children.

Habib faces four counts of lewd molestation on a child under 12 years old and remains in jail without bail.

Habib, a four-year firefighter, admitted the crimes to detectives from the Orange County Sheriff's Department. Detectives say alcohol may have been a factor in Habib's actions. He's been suspended without pay from his firefighting job pending the outcome of the case. He's also a volunteer in the fire department's Explorer Program for teenagers. 7-17-06

© 2006 North Country Gazette