An educator in California has been arrested and charged with molesting eight children while he was working as an elementary school counselor between 2015 and 2019. Authorities, however, said there could be more victims.
David Lane Braff Jr., a 42-year-old assistant principal and counselor at Ingenium Charter Middle School in Los Angeles, is accused of molesting children between the ages of 6 and 10.
The incidents allegedly happened in an office at McKevett Elementary School in the Santa Paula Unified School District, where he worked as a school counselor from 2015 to 2019, according to a news release from the Ventura County District Attorney.
Possible Additional Victims
Investigators for the Ventura County District Attorney's office are working together with the Santa Paula Police Department to investigate Braff's crimes. They also added that there could be "additional victims and crimes," especially because he was employed in several jobs in public education since the crimes. He has also volunteered in various programs for children over the years.
It is important to note that his full employment history is not known at the time the news release was published. A New York Times investigation found a LinkedIn profile matching his name and likeness. The work history mentioned Braff working for a charter school network after leaving McKevett Elementary School. He was then employed at Ingenium Charter Middle School after leaving the charter school network.
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How Did Authorities Find Out About Braff's Crimes?
Allegations against Braff surfaced out of a cold case sexual abuse unit. It was noted that officials at McKevett Elementary School had contacted authorities at the time of the alleged incidents. The school district conducted an internal investigation, but it was not immediately clear why there were no charges filed against Braff.
Additionally, it was unclear whether officials for the school district informed Braff's subsequent employers of the accusations against him. Ingenium Schools, on the other hand, said it was "devastated" to learn of Braff's crimes and has taken "immediate actions" to ensure the safety of its students, as reported by NBC Los Angeles.
Braff is currently being held in custody at Ventura County jail with a bail of $3 million.
