Charges filed against two former Christian Youth Theatre workers for alleged sexual abuse
Source: East County Magazine
Two men have been charged with felony sexual assault against students at Christian Youth Theatre in El Cajon.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan today announced that David Hott, 34, has been charged with two felony counts of lewd and lascivious acts on a 13-year-old child in 2007. Brad Christian Davis, 40, is charged with a felony count of sexual penetration by a foreign object involving at 16-year-old in 2010.
...The D.A.’s office has reportedly been investigating at least 10 complaints involving CYT locally. Both the D.A. and SDPD are asking any other victims to come forward and contact the police department.
After serious allegations of sexual abuse surfaced last summer, including some against staffers not charged to date, CYT shut abruptly suspended its San Diego programs and CYT’s San Diego social media, which remain dark....CYT, which started in San Diego County, is continuing its children’s theatre operations in other parts of the nation.
Read more: https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/charges-filed-against-two-former-christian-youth-theatre-workers-alleged-sexual-abuse-students-el
The DA has been investigating at least 10 different cases of sexual abuse by CYT teachers or other workers. Victims have accused CYT of covering up abuse for years -- yet they're still operating across the nation.
I wouldn't put my kid in one of their programs, as they've made no statements expressing empathy toward victims nor announcement any meaningful reforms, other than a leadership change.
I want to be sure others who may not know of the San Diego County charges are aware of this, especially parents with children interested in junior theatre.
I heard of allegations similar to this way back when I was in high school in the '70s, from fellow students. Though the charges date back quite a few years, the track record of ignoring students' complaints is deeply troubling.
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