A Los Angeles assistant principal was arrested Friday on suspicion of molesting eight young children while working at a Santa Paula elementary school several years ago, authorities said.

David Lane Braff Jr., 42, of Thousand Oaks is accused of molesting eight students ages 6 to 10 in a school office at McKevett Elementary School, where he worked as a counselor from 2015 to 2019, according to the Ventura County district attorney’s office. At the time of his arrest, Braff was an assistant principal and school counselor at Ingenium Charter Middle School in Winnetka, prosecutors said.

He has been charged with 17 felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under 14 years old and will be arraigned Monday in Ventura County Superior Court, prosecutors said.

He is being held in Ventura County jail on $3-million bail, prosecutors 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,” Ventura County Dist. Atty. Erik Nasarenko said in a statement. “We intend to vigorously prosecute this case and encourage others to come forward who may have information about additional victims and crimes.”

The district attorney’s office and the Santa Paula Police Department launched an investigation into Braff last month, and that effort continues. Prosecutors believe that Braff has worked at other schools in Southern California and may have been a volunteer for youth organizations.

Anyone who believes they may have been victimized, or who witnessed suspicious conduct, is encouraged to contact Greg Webb, an investigator at the Ventura County district attorney’s office, at (805) 477-1627, regardless of whether the incident occurred in Ventura County.

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File # LA231390030

Details:

On May 19, 2023, at 12:36 p.m., Thermal Sheriff’s Station deputies responded to the 78800 block of Avenue 50, in the city of La Quinta, reference a 12-year-old juvenile who fled the location with an adult male. School employees were able to obtain a plate for the suspect’s vehicle, which was provided to deputies. The investigation was assumed by the Thermal Station Special Investigations Unit.

At 2:14 p.m., while canvassing the area, the suspect vehicle was located returning to the location. The suspect was taken into custody without incident, and the juvenile was returned to her parents. The investigation determined the juvenile was communicating with the suspect via social media. The victim did not sustain any injuries during the incident. The suspect was identified as Joshua Meza, a 25-year-old, resident of Corona.

During a search of Meza’s vehicle, a firearm was located and seized. Meza was booked at the John Benoit Detention Center for lewd acts with a minor, contacting a minor with the intent to commit a sex crime and possession of a firearm on school grounds.

The Thermal Station Special Investigations Unit is asking anyone with additional information to contact Investigator Bugarin at (760) 863-2585. If you wish to remain anonymous, call Valley Crimestoppers at (760) 341-7867.

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

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File # T231150086

Details:

On April 25, 2023, at 3:57 PM, a call for service was generated in 72300 Block of State Highway 111, in the City of Palm Desert by a YouTube influencer group. The group called dispatch to notify the department they would be confronting a man who worked in the area regarding sexually motivated communications he was having with a person he believed to be a 14-year-old boy. The group live streamed the confrontation on YouTube. The group was asked to respond to the Palm Desert Sheriff Station where they provided the communications between their group, who were posing as the 14-year-old boy, and the man who was later identified as Brandon Bourgeois.

Palm Desert Investigations were called to the station and took over the investigation. Brandon Bourgeois, age 40 of Hemet, was arrested and booked into jail for contacting a minor to commit a felony and attempted oral copulation with a person under 16 years of age.

Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to contact Investigator Jose Munoz at the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station by calling (760) 836-1600.

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

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File # L222630043

Details:

In October 2022, Investigators from the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station assumed the investigation into alleged lewd acts with a child. During the course of the investigation the suspect was identified as Gilbert Randall Christopher (white male, 57 years old), a resident of Ridgecrest, CA. On February 27, 2023, the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station Investigations Bureau and Special Enforcement Team, located Christopher near a residence in the 500 block of County Line Road , in the city of Ridgecrest. Christopher was arrested without incident. Christopher was booked into Cois Byrd Detention Center on numerous charges of lewd acts with a child.

This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Deputy Howe at the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station (951) 245-3300.

As a reminder, “Community Policing” involves partnerships between law enforcement and community members. Business owners and residents are encouraged to report criminal activity directly to law enforcement by calling Sheriff’s Dispatch at (951) 776-1099, or by calling 911 if the matter is an emergency.

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

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File # WI222770026

Details:

In November 2022, Investigators from the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station, assumed the investigation into alleged lewd acts on a child. During the course of the investigation, the suspect was identified as Victor Morones (Hispanic male, 51 years old), a resident of Temecula. On February 9, 2023, the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station Investigations Bureau and Special Enforcement Team, located Morones at a hotel in the 28000 block of Old Town Front Street, in the city of Temecula. Morones was arrested without incident. Morones was booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center for the charge of lewd acts on a child.

This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Investigator Poznanski at the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station (951) 245-3300.

As a reminder,”Community Policing” involves partnerships between law enforcement and community members. Business owners and residents are encouraged to report criminal activity directly to law enforcement by calling Sheriff’s Dispatch at (951) 776-1099, or by calling 911 if the matter is an emergency.

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

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The investigation was assumed by the Jurupa Valley Station’s Detective Bureau. After a thorough investigation, it was determined that a crime had been committed.

On Thursday, January 6, 2022, Jurupa Valley Station detectives arrested Berndsen at her place of employment and a search warrant was served at her residence. Berndsen was later booked into Robert Presley Detention Center for 288 (a) PC (Lewd Acts with a Minor Child under 14) and additional charges.

This is an on-going investigation and no other information will be released at this time. If anyone has information regarding this investigation, they are encouraged to contact Investigator Medina at the Jurupa Valley Station at 951-955-2600.

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

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On Monday, February 1, 2021, patrol deputies assigned to the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station responded to a call for service regarding a past lewd act on a child, that occurred at a residence in the 33000 Block of Jamieson Street, Lake Elsinore. Patrol deputies immediately forwarded this information to the Investigations Bureau for further follow-up. During the course of this investigation, it was revealed that 41-year-old Jose Luis Rodriguez from Lake Elsinore had committed lewd acts on multiple juveniles.

Investigators were able to contact Rodriguez via cell phone and he agreed to respond to the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station for an interview. After Rodriguez was interviewed and based on the numerous counts of lewd and lascivious acts, he was arrested. A bail enhancement was authored and approved. Jose Luis Rodriguez was booked into a Riverside County Jail for committing lewd acts on the juveniles.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation can contact Deputy Pohlman or Investigator Poznanski at the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station at (951) 245-3300 or the Riverside County Sheriff’s Dispatch Center at (951) 776-1099.

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

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The investigation is currently on-going and no further information will be released at this time. If anyone has information in regards to this incident or any other similar incidents they are encouraged to call Investigator Franchville at the Southwest Station at 951-696-3000.

Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s Crime Tips online form.

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

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