The child molestation case against former school counselor David Lane Braff, Jr. has escalated with the filing of a second amended complaint introducing charges related to two additional victims, according to a statement by the Ventura County District Attorney's Office. As reported by the District Attorney's official release, Braff now faces a total of 33 counts of lewd acts upon a child under the age of 14, encompassing allegations from a tenure that has seen him in numerous positions working with children over two decades.
On October 22, 2025, the grand total of charges against Braff summed up to 33, with special allegations of multiple victims and taking advantage of a position of trust. The exposure of Braff's extensive contact with children across various institutions—including his time as a school counselor at McKevett Elementary School in Santa Paula and at Bright Star Schools in Los Angeles, where the new allegations have emerged—casts a shadow over his long career. "The defendant is now accused of molesting even more young victims across multiple years and locations," stated District Attorney Erik Nasarenko, according to Hoodline.
While already in custody without the option for bail following the denial of Braff's motion to have bail set, the former school counselor pled not guilty to the new charges during the arraignment. His employment history spans across numerous roles, from gym attendant and intramural sports coach to behavior therapist and assistant principal/school counselor, all involving direct contact with minors. The investigation, as noted by the District Attorney's Office, remains active, with appeals to the public for any who believe they may have been victimized by Braff to contact District Attorney Investigator Greg Webb.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Emily Reber, a member of the District Attorney's Office Sexual Assault Unit, is tasked with prosecuting the case. An Early Disposition Conference for Braff is scheduled for January 6, 2026, where the next steps in this unfolding legal saga will be determined, and perhaps,new developments should arise. In the meantime, the community grapples with the unsettling notion that someone they entrusted with the care of their children is accused of betraying that trust in the gravest way imaginable.
