Elementary school counselor accused of molesting 13 children in California
Months after a school counselor was arrested and charged in the molestation of eight children, five more victims have come forward, California prosecutors say.
David Lane Braff, Jr., 42, has been charged with “14 new felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under 14 years old,” the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office said in an April 29 news release.
“The defendant is now accused of molesting even more young victims across multiple years and locations,” District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said in the release.
Following his initial arrest in November, Braff was “charged with 17 felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under the age of 14,” prosecutors said.
Braff pleaded not guilty to the initial charges in January, court records show.
Braff is accused of molesting eight students while he worked as a school counselor at McKevett Elementary School in Santa Paula, according to prosecutors.
During his time at the school from 2015 to 2019, Braff molested the children, ranging in ages from 6 to 10, in a school office, prosecutors said in a November news release.
In an emailed statement to McClatchy News on May 1, Santa Paula Unified School District Superintendent Jeffrey Weinstein said Braff resigned shortly after an investigation into the incidents began.
After it’s own internal investigation, Weinstein said the “district contacted the Commission on Teacher Credentialing for the purpose of having his credential revoked.”
“As a parent and administrator, I am shocked and horrified. My heart and prayers go out to the students and their families,” Weinstein said in the statement. “As Superintendent, I remain fully committed to transparency and accountability and I am continuing to cooperate with the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office in its current proceedings. We take any allegations of misconduct seriously and are committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for all members of our school community.”
When Braff was arrested, he was employed as an assistant principal and school counselor with Ingenium Charter Middle School in Los Angeles, prosecutors said.
Following an investigation, four more victims who knew Braff through his time as a counselor at McKevett Elementary School were identified, prosecutors said.
Another victim accused Braff of assault between 2004 and 2005 while he was employed with the Conejo Recreation and Park District in Thousand Oaks, prosecutors said.
Neither the Ingenium Charter Schools nor Conejo Recreation and Park District immediately responded to McClatchy News’ request for comment on May 1.
Braff has held a number of positions working closely with children over the past 24 years in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, prosecutors said. The positions he’s held include coach, substitute teacher and counselor, according to prosecutors.
With the amended complaint, Braff is now accused of molesting 13 children and is facing 31 counts of child molestation, prosecutors said.
Braff, who is being held on $3 million bail, is scheduled to appear in court May 21 for an arraignment on the new charges, prosecutors said.
This story was originally published May 1, 2025 at 11:34 AM with the headline "Elementary school counselor accused of molesting 13 children in California."
