Los Angeles assistant principal charged with molesting eight elementary students, shattering trust and leaving a community in shock.
At a Glance
- David Lane Braff Jr. charged with 17 felony counts for molesting eight students under 11
- Alleged abuse occurred at Santa Paula elementary school from 2015 to 2019
- Braff currently held on $3 million bail, awaiting arraignment
- Investigation ongoing, public urged to provide additional information
Betrayal of Trust: Assistant Principal Faces Serious Charges
David Lane Braff Jr., an assistant principal in Los Angeles, has been arrested and charged with molesting eight elementary school students over several years. The allegations have sent shockwaves through the community, raising serious questions about the safety of children in educational institutions.
How much do you know about your child’s teachers?
Braff, who most recently served as an assistant principal and school counselor at Ingenium Charter Middle School in Winnetka, is facing 17 felony counts related to the alleged abuse. The charges stem from his time working as a counselor at a Santa Paula elementary school between 2015 and 2019. The gravity of the accusations is reflected in the $3 million bail set for Braff, who is currently detained in Ventura County jail.
Assistant principal at LA area school accused of molesting 8 children https://t.co/qyPi9ktdiR
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) November 23, 2024
Victims as Young as 6: The Scope of the Allegations
The case becomes even more disturbing when considering the age of the alleged victims. According to reports, the students involved were all under the age of 11, with some believed to be as young as 6 years old. This revelation underscores the vulnerability of young children and the critical importance of rigorous vetting and oversight in our educational system.
“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,” Ventura County District Attorney, Erik Nasarenko, explained in a statement.
The investigation into these allegations is being jointly conducted by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office and the Santa Paula Police Department. It began last month, suggesting that there may be more to uncover. Authorities are urging the public to come forward with any additional information that could be relevant to the case.
“Given the defendant’s history of re-occurring access to children, this investigation and prosecution remains ongoing,” Nasarenko added.
The Braff case serves as a stark reminder of the need for stringent background checks, ongoing monitoring, and clear reporting mechanisms in our schools. It also highlights the importance of teaching children about personal safety and encouraging them to speak up about inappropriate behavior.
We’ll report back as the case unfolds, but in the meantime, maybe it’s wise to take a look at the people teaching your children and ask some questions from your school’s leaders about their vetting procedures.
