SANTA PAULA, Calif. — Ventura County authorities announced on Tuesday that David Lane Braff, Jr., a 42-year-old former school counselor, faces 14 new felony counts of lewd acts upon a child after five additional victims recently came forward alleging child molestation. Braff, who was arrested on November 22, 2024, was initially charged with 17 felony counts of child molestation involving eight young children. The new charges bring the total number of alleged victims to 13 and the total number of charges to 31.
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The amended criminal complaint was filed by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office. Braff is scheduled to be arraigned on the new charges on May 21.
Child Molestation Allegations Span Decades at Multiple Schools
Braff was first accused of molesting eight students between the ages of 6 and 10 in his office at McKevett Elementary School in Santa Paula during his tenure there as a counselor from 2015 to 2019, reports ABC7. He pleaded not guilty to those charges last November.
Since his arrest, four more victims from McKevett Elementary have come forward, reports the Los Angeles Times. Additionally, another victim has alleged that Braff molested them between 2004 and 2005, during Braff’s time at the Conejo Recreation and Park District in Thousand Oaks.
Braff’s career spans over 25 years across many different school districts and youth sports facilities in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. He has held various positions, including counselor, sports coach, childcare assistant, substitute teacher, and behavioral therapist.
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His previous roles included:
- Conejo Recreation and Park District, Thousand Oaks, CA – Part-Time Gym Attendant/PartTime Recreation Leader (April 2000 – August 2005)
- Conejo Valley Unified School District, Thousand Oaks, CA – Intramural Sports Coach, Campus Supervisor, Childcare Assistant, Substitute Child Leader, Boys’ Freshman Basketball Coach (September 2003 – April 2015; Childcare Assistant 2012–2015)
- Moorpark Unified School District, Moorpark, CA – Paraeducator and Campus Supervisor/Instructional Assistant (January 2006 – August 2015)
- The ABA Network, Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA – Behavioral Therapist (July 2014 – August 2014)
- Santa Paula Unified School District, Santa Paula, CA – McKevett Elementary School Counselor (August 2015 – November 2019) • Bright Star Schools, Los Angeles, CA – School Counselor (November 2019 – unknown)
- Rio School District, Oxnard, CA – Substitute Teacher (September 2019 – unknown)
- Sports Academy, Thousand Oaks, CA – Referee (June 2021 – November 2024)
- Ventura Unified School District, Ventura, CA – Counselor (January 2022 – February 2023)
- Ingenium Charter Middle School, Canoga Park, CA – Assistant Principal/School Counselor (March 2023 – November 2024)
Braff was employed as an assistant principal and school counselor at Ingenium Charter Middle School in Winnetka at the time of his arrest.
Investigators Ask Other Potential Victims to Come Forward
Braff faces sentencing enhancements for allegedly exploiting his positions of trust, targeting highly vulnerable victims, and displaying sophisticated planning in the commission of the crimes. He remains in custody on $3 million bail.
Authorities believe there could be more victims and are continuing their investigation. Prosecutors are urging other potential child molestation victims or anyone with relevant information to contact Investigator Greg Webb at (805) 477-1627.
