Most Wanted Rape Suspect Arrested On Carnival Cruise Ship - Worked As Manager Of Onboard Hair Salon
A frequent topic on Cruise Law News is the danger of sexual assault on cruise ships. One of the problems we write about frequently is that the cruise lines do not conduct adequate background checks on their employees. The cruise lines deny this, of course, and claim that they subject their crew members to rigorous pre-employment screening.
Well, Carnival has a lot of explaining to do considering an article published today in the Oakland Tribune entitled "Man Sought Longest on Fremont's "Most Wanted" List Finally Caught."
It turns out that a rape suspect on the "Most Wanted" list of the city of Fremont, California was arrested last week in Mexico aboard a Carnival cruise ship where he worked as the manager of the onboard hair salon. Kaloyan Kaloyanov (photo left), age 36, was a former star athlete from Bulgaria who was wanted by the police for raping a 15 year old child who he coached in gymnastics.
The article indicates that the former international gymnastics star was placed on Fremont's Most Wanted list in 2002 after he abandoned his wife and daughter and fled the country after the girl informed police that Kaloyanov sexually assaulted her.
The article indicates that Kaloyanov competed in the 1997 and 1998 Aerobic Gymnastics World Championships, and he also participated in several events with his wife (photo below).
The article also indicates that the police interviewed Kaloyanov in 2002, and he admitted to "having sex" with the girl. It is less than clear why the police did not arrest him at that time. After the interview, Kaloyanov fled and has been on the run for eight years.
The police finally caught up with him when they Googled his name and they found photographs of 
him in front of a cruise ship. The police then determined that Kaloyanov had worked for Carnival Cruise Lines for four years, as a fitness instructor and the manager of a hair salon on a Carnival ship.
Congratulations to the police in Fremont for arresting the bad guy.
Its a shame that Carnival's "rigorous" pre-employment screening does not even include Googling the applicant's name. The cruise line would have learned that Kaloyanov's photograph is posted on an on line "Most Wanted" criminal database.
Carnival has issued a statement indicating that Kaloyanov, although a Carnival crew member, was actually hired by Steiner which operates the spa on the cruise ship. Carnival also stated that Kaloyanov worked with other cruise lines before ending up on a Carnival cruise ship.
Kaloyanov was working on the Carnival Spendour which was sailing from Long Beach, Caifornia.
This means that the U.S. Customs and Immigration officials in California, who are suppose to check the crew and passenger roster everytime a ship enters a U.S. port, failed to realize that Kaloyanov was a criminal suspect - even though he was on a "Most Wanted" database of a city in California.
August 20, 2010 Update:
According to the Oakland Tribune, Kaloyanov was scheduled to appear before an Alameda County judge today to possibly enter a plea and try to persuade a judge to reduce his bail from $500,000, the amount at which it was set earlier this week when he was formally arraigned on two counts of having sex with a minor.
Story credit: Oakland Tribune / Ben Aguirre Jr. twitter.com/benaguirrejr
Photo one: Fremont "Most Wanted" page
Photo two: San Fransisco Chronicle / Kurt Rogers "Gym-dandies / Sportaerobics champions put Fremont on the map"
Jim Walker is a maritime lawyer who has attended seven Congressional hearing on issues of cruise ship crime, passenger disappearances,
was he actually convicted in a court of law in 2002 or you're assuming he's a "bad guy", because he's on a police list? good journalism.
Dear Curious:
Let's see. This dirtball admitted to "having sex" with a 15 year old girl (his version) and abandoned his wife and child, not to mention the rape allegations.
I'm not a journalist. I am a trial lawyer and advocate for safety on cruise ships.
Thanks for reading my blog.
Don't come back.
Jim Walker
It seems every time we turn on the news there are stories like this about violence, corporate theft and fraud. As an employer you should be doing thorough background checks on your employees. This will provide a safer working environment as well as minimizing the risk of crimes happening to you. Checking out https://www.candidresearch.com/resources/faqs is a good start for you AND your business!
Hi Jim...
Well I work for a cruise line and have been on 2 different ships with Kal and he was a "freaky" guy.... I never did like the way he looked at people.... I now know why... I hope he gets what he deserves for his crime.
Disgusted 1.
I worked with him too. PLEASE tell me what does Steiner have to say about this whole thing.
Never liked him.
Please keep us posted on the progress of this matter.
Oh my word I can't believe this this was my manager I always asked him about his wife and child he said they where no long together aaahhhh I feel sicK!
I hope he gets what he deserves.
omfg...he was my manager on paradise....i was the only person that got on with him and liked him....now i feel sick...wtf this is soooo creepy....our company stiener should of checked him out before he work with soooo many young girls....stiener has put all our lives in danger the bastards!!!
I used to work for Steiner, worst company on the face of the planet! Saying I would interested in what they have to say on the matter, is a severe understatement!!!
I work for Carnival Cruise Lines. I know this Guy very well. I am 100% sure that half of his employee (GIRLS) were his girlfriends.I ts not nice to mention their names, but they know who they are.
I am from the Caribbean, and CARNIVAL Cruise Lines is NOT an equal apportunity Employer. So why 90% of their ships gose to the Islands. We should charge a higher TAX for Carnival ONLY.
I know Kal , and I worked with him. He likes girls, but who doesn't? He will always talk nice to a girl and do his best to bring her in his bed, but he will NEVER physically force her or rape her!!!!!! It is true that a lot of girls were in his bed and I am curious to see even one bad comment from such a girl!!! He is always nice, gentle and helpful. For me he is not a criminal. Having sex with a 15-year old is a mistake, bad mistake, but first of all I am sure it was mutual and second of all let's ask ourselves, does this mistake deserve to ruin a life of young man?
The media look for sensations and they exagerrate everything and make him look bad, but this is not correct. I would like to see more comments from people who really know him!
Adonisss:
What about the life of the 15 year old girl he raped?
Jim Walker
Shame on the cruise line, the sex offender check list is free and takes a second.....not to mention any organization that has kids involved should pay for a simple background check, $30 up front is a lot cheaper than a million in a law suit..........
I worked with him too. He was a wierd guy. Followed my girlfriend all the way back to our cabin on one night! I hated his friend Gemma too. They were always seperate to the rest of the Steiners. Hope he gets what he deserves