An assistant principal faces allegations of molesting eight children at a California elementary school.
David Lane Braff Jr. faces 17 felony charges related to inappropriate conduct involving eight students aged six to ten at McKevett Elementary School in Santa Paula, as stated in a news release on Friday, Nov. 22.
Braff, 42, faces allegations of assaulting minors between 2015 and 2019 during his time as a school counselor. At the time of his arrest, he was serving as an assistant principal at Ingenium Charter Middle School in Los Angeles.
Braff faces serious allegations outlined in the criminal complaint, which highlight the planning and sophistication of the crimes, as well as the vulnerability of the children in his care.
In the release, District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said, “The defendant is alleged to have molested multiple elementary school children over a number of years, shattering the trust placed in him by parents, educators, and the public.”
Braff is thought to have been employed at various schools in southern California and to have volunteered for youth organizations during the period of his alleged misconduct, according to the release.
He is still being held at Ventura County jail with a bail set at $3 million. Senior Deputy District Attorney Brent Nibecker leads the prosecution.
The Santa Paula Unified School District has acknowledged the recent arrest of a former employee linked to allegations of sexual abuse from their time with the District in 2018.
Ingenium Charter Middle School released a statement, according to NBC LA: “Upon learning of the allegations … Ingenium swiftly implemented measures to protect its students.
Braff is scheduled to appear at Ventura County Superior Court for his criminal charges on Monday, Nov. 25.