South Bay Science Camp Counselor Charged With Allegedly Molesting 2nd Victim
SAN JOSE (CBS SF) – A former counselor accused of molesting a boy at a science camp in Santa Clara County is now facing additional felony charges for a second victim, prosecutors said Thursday.
Edgar Covarrubias Padilla, 27, appeared Thursday afternoon at the Hall of Justice in San Jose, where he was charged with two additional counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 years old, Deputy District Attorney David Shabaglian said.
The second amended complaint now has nine felony counts that include possessing more than 600 images of child pornography and manufacturing and distributing child pornography, Shabaglian said.
At the time of the alleged molestations, the first victim was 10 years old and the second was either 7 or 8 years old, according to Shabaglian.
The first victim was molested at the camp, while the second, younger victim was not, Shabaglian said.
Padilla's bail was raised to $300,000 and he was scheduled for a plea hearing on Sept. 10.
Padilla was arrested on May 7 by sheriff's deputies at the Walden West science camp near Saratoga after a tip from federal investigators that he was allegedly downloading child pornography, sheriff's officials said.
The camp is a weeklong program for fifth and sixth grade students with two locations near Saratoga and Cupertino run by the Santa Clara County Office of Education.
Known as "Papa Bear" at the camp, Padilla was the person students turned to if they were troubled at night or homesick, according to county education officials.
Padilla started volunteering at the camp in 2011 and was hired in 2013, working in various roles where he had contact with children, county education officials said.
He had passed standard background checks, including a federal fingerprint clearance, according to county education officials.
Since Padilla's arrest, the Office of Education has added safety rules for students and employees; formed a special task force to look at the camp's procedures and policies; and hired an independent investigator to review its policies and identify area of improvement.
Two civil complaints have been filed against Padilla, the Santa Clara County Office of Education and Board of Education on behalf of two victims and their parents.
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