In a 12-page letter sent to the school in December 2019, Ward Hoffers lawyer, Eric MacLeish, detailed the allegations of abuse as part of a civil claim a precursor to a lawsuit against Cate. 15 - 22 december 2022 montecito journal 41 montecito's best breakfast friday, saturday & sunday 8:00am - 11:30am lunch & dinner 12:00pm - 9:00pm 805.969.2646 lucky's (805) 565-7540 1279 . Processing It is their time. Cool for the kids nonetheless. We really want to emphasize that we are seeking additional survivors as well as witnesses for any sexual misconduct that has occurred at Cate School, Zick said. All four were transported by American Medical Response ambulances to local hospitals. Employment - Cate School The Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Office confirmed to the Montecito Journal that James, also a former dorm parent at Cate, is the same man currently under investigation for potential sexual assault on the Carpinteria campus. Officials said they intended to share a detailed summary of the findings with all of the constituencies of the school. It does not appear that the report has been publicly released. Tweet. Youre a student, the report stated. {"requests":{"event":"https:\/\/www.noozhawk.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/newspack-popups\/includes\/..\/api\/campaigns\/index.php"},"triggers":{"trackPageview":{"on":"visible","request":"event","visibilitySpec":{"selector":"#c7d2","visiblePercentageMin":50,"totalTimeMin":250,"continuousTimeMin":100},"extraUrlParams":{"popup_id":"id_234460","cid":"CLIENT_ID(newspack-cid)"}},"formSubmitSuccess":{"on":"amp-form-submit-success","request":"event","selector":"#c7d2 .wp-block-jetpack-mailchimp form","extraUrlParams":{"popup_id":"id_234460","cid":"CLIENT_ID(newspack-cid)","mailing_list_status":"subscribed","email":"${formFields[email]}","esp":"mailchimp"}}}} The sheriffs report has since been submitted to the District Attorneys Office for review, Lt. Robert Minter told Jade. In Boulder, James faces two felony counts of sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust and one count of unlawful sexual contact. Brittny Mejia is a Metro reporter who joined the Los Angeles Times in 2014. At that time, I knew that the boundaries were kind of gray. Detectives Investigating Sexual Abuse at Cate School | Edhat Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Lt. Robert Minter confirmed that James is a suspect in the investigation at Cate School. Bill Macfadyen: Shoreline Drive Crash Leaves One Dead, One Severely Injured, Few Clues, More by William M. Macfadyen, Noozhawk Publisher, Local Independent Online News (LION) Publishers, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. Please reload the page and try again. And then theres Assistant Headmaster Jay Dorion who, when asked why James was kept around for so long after he was reported, acknowledged the awkwardness of hindsight. Top Ranked Santa Barbara County Private Schools (2023) School Location Grades Students Dunn School Add to Compare (4) 2555 West Highway 154 Los Olivos, CA 93441 (805) 688-6471 6-12 256 Fusion Academy Santa Barbara Alternative School Add to Compare 510 State Street, 2nd Floor Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (805) 292-9658 6-12 n/a Processing Per the request of the Sheriffs Department, we are not sharing the suspects name in order to protect the integrity of the pending criminal investigation, Williams wrote. The eight-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl 50 Most Valuable Player answered questions one-on-one from Cate junior Carlo Kim about his life and career before addressing questions from the entire community. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The freshest news in Santa Barbara County. Per the request of the Sheriffs Department, we are not sharing the suspects name in order to protect the integrity of the pending criminal investigation. Yes, Ill set up a monthly donation today! The Sheriffs Office would like to remind survivors that they can also find support services through our community partner, Standing Together to End Sexual Assault (STESA). We have many resources available regardless of your decision to participate in a criminal investigation. The report determined that 10 unnamed respondents had massaged female students, participated in emotional and homophobic abuse, made sexual comments and demonstrated poor boundaries. What was our most-read story this time last year? In both cases, we conducted investigations and took action with respect to the former Cate faculty members who engaged in the misconduct and in acknowledgment of the alumnae who came forward to detail their experiences and to discuss the impacts of surviving abuse, officials said in the email. What were these adults doing? Contact him at wmacfadyen@noozhawk.com, and follow him on Instagram: @bill.macfadyen. DGS Giving and Benefit Levels; About John Dewey; FAQs; News & Press. Owned by a subsidiary of Realogy Brokerage Group LLC. Voted Santa Barbara's Best Website for 10 years in a row, edhat is local news from your community. Home prices begin at nearly $3 million and go up to $125 million and more. New York, New York, United States. It looks like that to me now, and I fully understand the progression.. On June 24, 2021, detectives from the Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Bureau and investigators from the District Attorney's Office served search warrants at the Cate School campus, located at 1960 Cate Mesa Road in Carpinteria, to gather potential evidence to further the investigation of these allegations. For the latest news in Santa Barbara County delivered right to your inbox. "Sheriff's detectives have identified several sexual assault survivors in this case who are both current and former students of Cate School," said Lt. Brad Welch, "and they believe there may be additional survivors or witnesses who have not yet been located or contacted. Disturbing details are emerging in the case of former Cate School teacher Da'Jon James and why he was silently exiled from the Carpinteria campus in March 2020 with sources confirming to the Montecito Journal that the first report of alleged inappropriate sexual behavior by the chorale director actually came in November 2019. Superintendent Hilda Maldonado said 17,000 tests had been distributed as of Jan. 2. Tar Spill on Fairview Determined to be Biosolids, Over Twenty Pounds of Illegal Drugs Seized in Santa Barbara, Goleta City Council Responds to Countys Housing Element, Amtrak Train Collides with Wood Chipper in Gaviota, SpaceX Successfully Launches More Satellites on Friday, Limited Services at Central Library Due to Construction: March 6-13. Voted Santa Barbara's Best Website for 10 years in a row, edhat is local news from your community. One of the more serious allegations was made against a male teacher who taught in the 1980s and led the school outdoor program in the 1990s, according to the report. Survivors have the option of contacting the Victim-Witness Assistance Program directly at 805-568-2400 or toll free at 855-840-3232. Deans of the Gevirtz School; Mission & History; Giving. And we get up early and stay up late excited to report whats going on in our community so we can keep you informed and engaged. Our head of school was raised on a boarding school campus, and many of our administrators and trustees graduated from Cate or other boarding and independent schools. Thank God I made it to the NFL, joked Miller, who majored in poultry science at Texas A&M. Mission - Cate School Tar Spill on Fairview Determined to be Biosolids, Over Twenty Pounds of Illegal Drugs Seized in Santa Barbara, Goleta City Council Responds to Countys Housing Element, Amtrak Train Collides with Wood Chipper in Gaviota, SpaceX Successfully Launches More Satellites on Friday, Limited Services at Central Library Due to Construction: March 6-13. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Cate Schools former director of vocal music, who was jettisoned by the school in 2020 amid allegations of sexual misconduct, was arrested on charges of felony sexual assault at a private school in Boulder, Colorado, on July 29, 2021. The investigation was initiated on April 1, 2021, by mandated reporters outside of the school speaking on behalf of the sexual assault survivors. The Sheriffs Office is aware that survivors of sexual assault and abuse are often reluctant to come forward for many different reasons. The investigation was initiated on April 1, 2021, by mandated reporters outside of the school speaking on behalf of the sexual assault survivors. July 1, 2021: Detectives Investigating Sexual Abuse at Cate School. Ambassador to Ukraine and parent to Cate Student Jack Higgins ('23). When asked why James wasnt terminated earlier, current Assistant Head of School Jay Dorion told investigators: I know what it looks like now. Cate School admits students of any race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. Head of School Ben Williams said he accepted the students account as credible and wanted to repair the harm caused in the manner she saw fit, according to the report. Cate School had addressed James dismissal, although had not named the teacher. The 37-page reportby Oppenheimer Investigations Group LLP was published on Dec. 13. The four year Westmont College is located in the hills above Montecito. Please reload the page and try again. The East Coast native received a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Psychology from Syracuse University, during which time he directed musicals, performed in operas, and conducted various music ensembles. Students who wish to attend public schools must enroll in the Santa Barbara Unified School District and commute to Santa Barbara Junior High School, followed by Santa Barbara High School . You then will be able to submit your deal. MONTECITO JOURNAL. Publications include Outside Magazine, Los Angeles Times, Surfer, National Geographic Adventure, Alaska Airlines Magazine, Alert Diver and Surfer's Journal. In the case of Thacher, pressure for an investigation sprang from a social media account that detailed anonymous allegations of sexual misconduct in a manner similar to how student-run Instagram accounts launched across the country after the death of George Floyd shared incidents of campus racism. Air University Library 600 Chennault Circle Maxwell AFB, AL 36112-6010 (334) 953-2888 DSN 493-2888 Montecito Journal Glossy Edition - Summer Fall 2016 - Issuu document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The freshest news in Santa Barbara County. Less than 48 hours after defeating the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game and punching a ticket to Super Bowl LVI, Los Angeles Rams linebacker Von Miller made a special appearance at Cate School to kick off its celebration for Black History Month. We have many resources available regardless of your decision to participate in a criminal investigation. Montecito Journal: Contact Information, Journalists, and Overview These allegations occurred while the suspect was employed at Cate School and occurred on the school property. An employee who does not meet school standards and is terminated receives no letter of recommendation or reference from the school. Report details allegations of misconduct at Cate School as far back as Check out his latest recommended playlist, listen to some tunes from around the world, and follow the Secretary here: https://t.co/z5SyMkIJqz. The Sheriffs Office would like to remind survivors that they can also find support services through our community partner, Standing Together to End Sexual Assault (STESA). Chris Giles - Director of Major Gifts Director and Planned Giving montecito journal cate school - hazrentalcenter.com On June 24 one week after the Thacher School in Ojai released an extraordinary 91-page report detailing sexual misconduct allegations at the boarding school sheriffs detectives and investigators from the Santa Barbara County district attorneys office served search warrants at the Cate campus to gather potential evidence. The school ultimately terminated James in February 2020 after it was made aware of the allegation that he had placed his hand on a students thigh, and at the same time, the administration filed a report with Child Welfare Services. Site design and development byHop StudiosHop Studios, What else is news in NoozWeeks Top 5? Gevirtz School News Archive; Gevirtz School in the News; Maps; Staff; Employment; Social Media; Academic Programs. Previous administrators were not aware of any allegations against him and were not involved in the settlement negotiations, the report found. Student N said that she went to James room alone one evening in November 2019 to watch TV, and James had spread his legs open so that she could lean back on his chest, encircled her with his arms around her chest, began kissing her neck and the top of her head, and felt her chest through her sweatshirt. And by my own take, I mean my opinion column. Noozhawk previously reported that the Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Department had launched its own investigation of the school at 1960 Cate Mesa Road last April. p.: tf@tf.vu.lt Bill Macfadyen is Noozhawks founder and publisher. Box 5005 Carpinteria, CA 93013 www.cate.org REQUEST INFO Founded in 1910, Cate School is a grade 9-12, coeducational, college preparatory boarding school in Carpinteria, California. The $60,000 established private schools do give a better education than LA public schools if college entry, sorority or fraternity connections are the goal. Four former faculty members and seven alumni reported 15-year Cate faculty member David Mochel for his inappropriate behavior with students, including "kissing and touching intimate body parts." Though an open secret at the time, one survivor formally reported his abuse to the school in 2012; Cate conducted a private, undocumented investigation. June 14, 2022; park city pickleball tournament . www.MONTECITO associates LORI CLARIDGE BOWLES 805.452.3884 lori@loribowles.com CALRE#01961570 DANA ZERTUCHE 805.403.5520 dana@danazertuche.com . While this doesnt directly pertain to you or your children, we figured you should know.. The internal investigation by Cate School revealed that two former students experienced "mistreatment by Cate faculty" back in 1980s and 90s. One such survivor, Wendy Ward Hoffer, described the sexual abuse she endured by a teacher at Cate School in the late 80s, including abuse at an off-campus camping trip. Seventeen former faculty members or administrators of Cate School in Carpinteria have been identified as engaging in sexual misconduct with students, including grooming and sexual relations, with the earliest perpetrator a faculty member in the 1980s and 1990s. Several witnesses spoke of Jamescrossing of boundaries, including physical touching of female students, discussing personal matters, developing intimate friendships with female students, making inappropriate sexual comments, having students in his campus apartment late at night and treating students as peers, according to the report. As our Tom Bolton first reported, the Aug. 30 wreck was called in around 11 p.m. in the Woodchopper Hill area, about two miles north of where Highway 154 intersects with the freeway at Zaca Station Road north of Buellton. 56 Acres in Santa Ynez // 26 acres of income-producing vineyards Original 1930's charm // All modern amenities Offered at . Elite California Boarding School Faces Sex Abuse Allegations Mark Valencia at (805) 681-4150. A late-night crash on Highway 101 north of the Highway 154 interchange in the Santa Ynez Valley injured four people, two of them critically. Santa Barbara News-Press: February 08, 2023. All associated names and allegations are available in the full report, which can be viewed online here. Yes, Ill set up a monthly donation today! I have quite a few things to say in this weeks Best of Bill column, which I write in my civic capacity as Noozhawks publisher. It came about after former students informed the school of alleged incidents of sexual misconduct involving faculty members. 2021 was the third year in a row that our Hawks Club membership program set an annual fundraising record by a significant margin again. It's obvious what happened here to anyone who has been around the block more than once. Law enforcement authorities are investigating reports of sexual abuse and misconduct by a former employee at the elite Cate School in Carpinteria, months after campus officials told alumni that they launched their own internal look into potential abuse that could date back decades. By June, a new Instagram account was created that includes anonymous allegations of sexual misconduct and captures anonymous yet growing frustration over the schools handling of its internal investigation. Rob Dunton - Senior Director of Development, Foundation - LinkedIn A look back at the artist tributes from this year's Santa Barbara Film Festival. Privilege + wealth + insularity seems to lead to these situations. Lisa Braithwaite, MA - Presentation Skills Coach - LinkedIn . Processing In a statement to the campus community that was shared with The Times, Head of School Ben Williams said Cate is cooperating with an investigation by local law enforcement into alleged sexual misconduct by a former employee, who worked at Cate School for six months, and whose employment was terminated in February of 2020. The school said it also alerted Child Protective Services to potential misconduct by the same employee.