EspañolAssistant Principal David Braff Jr. (Full Name: David Lane Braff Jr.), of Thousand Oaks, Charged With Molesting Eight Children At McKevett Elementary School in Santa Paula
SANTA PAULA, CALIFORNIA (November 23, 2024) – An assistant principal identified as David Braff Jr. is being charged with molesting at least eight children at McKevett Elementary School in Santa Paula.
Ventura County officials are saying that they arrested the defendant on Friday morning. The arrest came after an investigation opened by the police last month.
David Braff Jr. worked as a school counselor from 2015 to 2019 , where he allegedly repeatedly molested students in a school office. The victims were between the ages of 6 and 10 when the abuse took place.
He currently faces 17 felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under the age of 14. There is a growing concern that the scope of the abuse may not be limited to McKevett Elementary School in Santa Paula.
David Braff Jr. worked at other schools in Southern California and volunteered at an organization for youth. He is currently held at the Ventura County jail on a $3 million bail.
Liability For Ventura County Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse in a school setting remains alarmingly common throughout California. Several areas in California had particularly high rates of abuse, including Los Angeles County and the Bay Area. According to ED Source, “Bay Area school districts have faced more than 50 sexual abuse lawsuits in the last six months of 2022 alone, the San Francisco Chronicle investigated. Only eight of the 52 cases had been previously reported, and some of them go back to the early 1960s. The investigation covered San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.” Schools should be proactive and take a number of measures in order to prevent abuse.
- Background Checks: Schools should ensure that all employees, contractors, and volunteers undergo background checks.
- Safeguarding: Schools should implement policies and procedures to prevent children from being isolated with school officials.
- Training: School officials should be trained to recognize signs of abuse.
- Reporting: School officials must be trained to report all reasonably suspected instances of abuse.
It is illegal for any teacher to engage in lewd conduct with a minor. Pursuant to California Penal Code 288, it is a crime for a person to commit any lewd or lascivious act on a child under 16 years of age. This includes touching a child’s body for sexual purposes. It is not necessary for the touching to be on bare skin. Teachers that fail to report reasonably suspected instances of abuse could also face legal penalties.
Schools have a legal obligation to take reasonable steps to protect all of the students in their care. Consider, for example, C.A. v. William S. Hart Union High School District. The California Supreme Court held that school districts can be held liable for negligence in the supervision of employees who harm students. For liability to apply, it must have been reasonably foreseeable that the employee posed a risk of harm to students. It is crucial that certain steps are taken after any instance of abuse in a school setting.
- A police report should be created.
- Medical records related to the abuse should be preserved.
- It should be determined what school officials knew and when they knew it.
- An experienced school sexual abuse attorney should be contacted.
Sexual abuse is one of the most harmful experiences that children can go through. Victims often suffer long-term psychological trauma, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression. They are also likely to be afflicted with chronic health conditions and develop substance abuse disorder. Sadly, though, schools will often turn a blind eye to abuse that is taking place in their midst. In many situations, the abusers are well liked and trusted. This is why it is so important for schools to remain vigilant and implement safeguarding measures across the board.
Investigating Ventura County School Sexual Abuse
We at the Carrillo Law Firm, LLP extend our best wishes to all of the families and victims who have been impacted by the actions of David Braff Jr. There needs to be a thorough investigation into the potential scope of the misconduct. It is shameful that abuse of this nature was allegedly allowed to carry on for such a long period of time.
Have you or someone that you care about been sexually abused at McKevett Elementary School in Santa Paula? You may have legal recourse. Our team of teacher sexual abuse attorneys is here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that abuse victims are aware of their rights and that school districts are held accountable for their negligence. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 626-799-9375.
