Authorities say the man used a stolen Latvian identity and fake documents to rent out part of the park before opening hours for the wedding.
WASHINGTON — A convicted sex offender from the United Kingdom has been charged in France after allegedly organizing a fake wedding ceremony involving a 9-year-old girl at Disneyland Paris. The 39-year-old man was arrested at the theme park early Saturday morning after staff were alerted that the bride of the wedding was a child.
Authorities say the man used a stolen Latvian identity and fake documents to rent out part of the park before opening hours for the wedding.
He reportedly hired around 100 French extras, paying them 200 euros each to attend what was described as a “prestige wedding rehearsal” requiring a strict dress code and confidentiality. French outlet BFMTV reported the stunt may have cost more than €130,000.
Police were called after a 55-year-old actor hired to play the bride’s father discovered the girl’s age and notified Disneyland security. The man, who said he was paid €12,000, told police he only realized she was a child at the last moment.
Prosecutors said the child was a Ukrainian citizen who had arrived in France two days prior with her mother. A medical evaluation confirmed the girl was not physically or sexually harmed and had not been coerced.
The suspect was charged with fraud, identity theft and money laundering. He is also being investigated for the possible corruption of a minor.
The man is wanted in the U.K. for violating court orders stemming from past sexual offenses involving minors. He was previously sentenced to four years in prison for sexual activity with two 15-year-old girls. In recent years, he has staged other elaborate stunts in Britain involving fake events with minors.
Three others were also arrested, including the girl’s mother and two Latvian nationals aged 55 and 24.
Disneyland Paris issued a statement saying the event was “immediately canceled” and that the park is cooperating fully with authorities, French news outlets reported.