Sex Crimes

A former Disney World Mickey Mouse impersonator was among nearly 300 people busted by police in connection with a human trafficking and child-predator enforcement sting operation in Florida -- and Chris Hansen of "To Catch a Predator" fame participated in the takedown ... TMZ has learned.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office announced Friday that investigators from 7 agencies arrested 281 suspects in connection with a massive sting operation geared towards human trafficking and child-predator enforcement, including 24-year-old Collin Klaco -- the ex-Mickey Mouse imitator.

Cops say Klaco told officers he would slip into his Mickey Mouse costume to entertain kids at Disney World. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said at a press conference that Klaco spoke in a "spooky, high-pitched voice."

Thomas Markle's digital devices will soon be searched by cops in the Philippines ... amid an investigation into disturbing allegations involving child porn possession.

The BBC reports cops in Cebu City have obtained a search warrant to go through the items recently seized from Thomas' home after his son, Thomas Markle, Jr., allegedly found hundreds of pictures of child pornography in a box.

Thomas Jr. told The Sun he had to report his father to cops ... and promised he'd never speak to his dad again.

We will have to wait until next week for a judge in the United Kingdom to decide if the big-time celebrity fighting to keep his identity under wraps amid disturbing sexual misconduct allegations can be named publicly.

According to The Journal, Justice Matthew Nicklin told London's High Court on Wednesday that he'll do "everything [he] can" to make a decision next week.

Nicklin said ... "The court will have to reserve judgment in this case. I appreciate the urgency."

A UK celebrity accused of sexual misconduct is begging the court not to be identified, warning there's a serious chance of self-harm if his name comes out ... but if accusers can file anonymously, should the accused be allowed to do the same?

That's the question we dive into on "The Low Down" -- the new YouTube collab between TMZ and the New York Post, where we give you the inside scoop on the biggest stories that are gripping, outrageous, and scandalous.

Harvey asks the hypothetical ... pointing out the serious reputational harm an unsubstantiated allegation against someone can do.

"Cheer" star Monica Aldama's son, Austin Aldama, has pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography ... TMZ has learned.

In legal docs, obtained by TMZ ... Austin waived his right to trial and entered a guilty plea to one of the 10 counts of possession of child pornography -- a third-degree felony.

While Austin's adjudication is deferred ... he's been ordered to spend 180 days in county jail on weekends -- with one weekend served every month.

The Alexander brothers each got 30 years in federal prison for sex trafficking ... but, according to their rep, the disgraced real estate moguls' "lives are not over" and they're only beginning their fight to clear their names.

The brothers' rep, Juda Engelmayer, tells TMZ ... not only are their lives not over ... but neither is the case because Juda says "serious questions remain about the fairness of the proceedings, and they intend to pursue every available avenue of appeal."

As you know, Oren, Alon, and Tal Alexander appeared Tuesday in Manhattan Federal Court, where a judge handed down the harsh punishments to them.

Russell Brand took the stand during his rape trial ... and he says no one with relevant evidence is willing to come forward and publicly associate with him.

The actor appeared in a London courthouse on Wednesday ... and he stepped up to testify for the first time. Up to this point, testimony in the case has focused mainly on the accounts of the alleged victims.

His lawyer asked him about how his life changed after he married Katy Perry in 2010 ... and Brand said it was a "staggering" amount of fame.

The lawyer then asked, "Were you able to persuade a single person with relevant evidence to come to give evidence on your behalf?" ... to which Brand replied, "I have not."

Joey DeSena is a repeat winner on "Jeopardy!" -- and he's now a repeat sex crimes offender, according to new court documents.

New legal docs, obtained by TMZ, show DeSena was arrested last Friday in North Carolina and slapped with 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.

Authorities also issued an arrest warrant charging DeSena with possessing sexually explicit photos and videos of children.

A judge is putting the public on notice ... warning people to stop trying to identify the mystery celebrity fighting to keep serious sexual misconduct allegations under wraps ... or they could wind up behind bars themselves.

Judge Matthew Nicklin issued the warning during a hearing in London's High Court Tuesday ... after online sleuths began tossing around names in an attempt to unmask the famous man, who's only been identified in court as "PPT."

According to The Independent, the judge acknowledged the growing speculation ... but made it clear that even if a name is being widely circulated online, that doesn't make it fair game to publish.

Danny Masterson's attorneys are going scorched earth on a California appeals court ... accusing judges of ignoring bombshell evidence after upholding the actor's rape convictions.

The "That '70s Show" star's lawyers, Cliff Gardner and Eric Multhaup, are unloading on the court after it rejected his appeal and habeas corpus petition Tuesday ... claiming judges overlooked evidence they insist proves Masterson is innocent.

Gardner tells TMZ ... the decision ignores "extraordinary new evidence" that's been before the court for more than a year ... he claims they have statements from both women Masterson was convicted of raping saying their sexual encounters with him were consensual and positive.

Real estate moguls Oren, Alon, and Tal Alexander have each been sentenced to 30 years in prison after their federal sex trafficking convictions.

The brothers appeared in a New York City courtroom Tuesday, where a judge handed down the severe sentence.

As we reported ... the Alexanders were all found guilty in March on 10 counts, including conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and sex trafficking by force after prosecutors claimed they began drugging and raping women as far back as their high school days in the early 2000s.

A big-time celebrity is fighting to keep his identity under wraps amid disturbing sexual misconduct allegations ... with his lawyers warning he could take his own life if the claims are made public.

The unnamed star is asking a London court to block two major news outlets from identifying him and reporting allegations that he used his fame to pursue sexual relationships with numerous girls and young women over the years, according to the BBC.

During a hearing Tuesday, the man's legal team argued the potential fallout from the allegations could be devastating ... saying publication would "highly likely lead him to commit suicide."

Russell Brand is not guilty of indecent assault ... though the charge is just being replaced by another one -- and Brand's legal fight isn't over yet.

Here's the deal ... the judge in Brand's case told jurors that the charge -- which stems from an alleged incident where a woman claims he tried to drag her into a bathroom at MTV in 2001 -- should actually be "attempted indecent assault."

Therefore, he ordered them to find him not guilty of indecent assault ... with the judge saying, "In respect of count 2, I have reached the decision there is insufficient evidence of indecent assault. That is my decision, not yours. You will be directed to return a not guilty verdict in count two."

Multiple people who worked with Nick Carter's sexual assault accuser, Melissa Schuman, claim she never mentioned the assault on the set of a 2003 film ... TMZ has learned.

According to new court docs TMZ obtained, Nick's legal team deposed multiple people who worked with Melissa on the set of "The Hollow."

Daniel Levin, the head producer of the film, testified he worked with Melissa on the film and watched her interact with Nick. He claims he "did not observe any fear, distress, avoidance, or behavioral changes in Schuman that would have suggested she had been sexually assaulted by Carter."

A Philippine official says the investigation into Thomas Markle Sr.'s alleged possession of child abuse material points to a sex offender of the "grossest kind" -- confirming authorities uncovered illicit images during their search.

Philippine interior minister Jonvic Remulla told The Guardian that authorities found a "trove of child pornography materials as well as a laptop" at Thomas Sr.'s home.

Remulla added ... "In these cases where family disputes are mixed up, we have to consider all the angles. Right now all signs point to a possible sex offender of the grossest kind. We want to be sure before we release the findings. The forensics data will be complete in a week."

Meghan Markle's estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., has admitted that he hired prostitutes ... but denies ever sleeping with anyone underage.

Thomas Sr. told the Daily Mail on Sunday ... "I have never had sex with anyone under the age of 18."

He also told The Mail that he had previously traveled to the Philippines at least twice before living there and "slept with prostitutes" during those trips.