Man guilty of groping Minnie Mouse at Disney

John William Moyer will face sentencing for groping Minnie Mouse at Disney World

John William Moyer, 60, of Cressona, Penn., left, wipes the ink from his hands after he was convicted and sentenced Tuesday of misdemeanor battery charge for groping of a woman playing Minnie Mouse at Walt Disney World. (GEORGE SKENE, ORLANDO SENTINEL / August 11, 2009)

Bianca Prieto and Walter Pacheco Sentinel Staff Writer

A jury this morning found John William Moyer guilty of groping of a woman playing Minnie Mouse at Walt Disney World.

Moyer, 60, of Pennsylvania, was convicted of misdemeanor battery for the June incident this morning.

Judge Wayne Shoemaker imposed the sentence this morning.

"The verdict reinforces the fact that this type of behavior is not acceptable," said Walt Disney World spokeswoman Zoraya Suarez. Disney officials also banned Moyer from entering any of the company's resorts, Suarez said.

According to the sentence, Moyer has to write a letter of apology to the victim, Brittney Duncan McGoldrick. He also is under supervised probation for 180 days, must complete 50 hours of community service within four months, pay $1,000 in court costs and submit to a mental evaluation with treatment, if necessary.

Before sentencing, Moyer's adult son spoke on his behalf.

"He's a good man," Emory Moyer said. "He's a nice guy."

Emory Moyer also described his father as a man who would never touch a woman inappropriately.

Later, Moyer spoke briefly to the judge.

"I am innocent, I am not guilty of the crimes that I've been charged with," Moyer said.

Moyer has no criminal history and has never received a speeding ticket, he said. This was his first offense.

McGoldrick told prosecutors at the Orange County Courthouse on Monday she had pushed Moyer away from her after the incident.

"My first reaction I just pushed him down. I was doing everything I could to get his hands off my breasts," Duncan McGoldrick said.

Jurors began their deliberations Monday afternoon.

"We're just hoping for the only fair and just verdict in this case, which is 'not guilty'," said Zahra S. Umansky, Moyer's attorney.

Moyer had been booked into Orange County Jail on June 7 and was released on $1,000 bail.