A Los Angeles assistant principal has been accused of sexually abusing eight students under the age of 11 in his school office “over a period of many years.”
David Lane Braff Jr. was arrested Friday and charged with 17 felonies related to the alleged abuse. Prosecutors said the abuse occurred at a Santa Paula elementary school where he worked as a counselor from 2015 to 2019.
The eight alleged victims are believed to be around 6 years old.
Brough, 42, of Thousand Oaks, currently works as an assistant principal and school counselor at Ingenium Charter Middle School in Winnetka.
“The defendant is suspected of sexually abusing multiple elementary school students on several occasions.”
“He shattered the trust that parents, educators and the public had in him for years,” said Ventura County District Attorney Eric Nasarenko. statement.
Mr. Nasarenko encouraged the public to come forward if they have additional information about the incident.
“Given the defendant's history of contact with children, this investigation and prosecution will continue,” he said.
Prosecutors said Braff's full employment history is not yet known, but he is believed to have worked at other schools in Southern California and may have volunteered with youth organizations.
The charges against Braff say the manner in which the sick crimes were carried out “demonstrates premeditation, sophistication, or professionalism” and that Braff has gained credibility among “vulnerable” victims. It is pointed out that he took advantage of his position.
The investigation into Bluff began last month between the Ventura County District Attorney's Office and the Santa Paula Police Department.
Braff is being held in the Ventura County Jail, with bail set at $3 million, prosecutors said. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday.
