Former School Counselor Held to Answer on All Charges in Child Molestation Case Involving 15 Victims

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced that David Lane Braff Jr.  (DOB 05/28/82), of Thousand Oaks, has been held to answer on all charges following a  preliminary hearing in Ventura County Superior Court.

The judge found sufficient evidence for Braff  to stand trial on 33 felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under 14, related to 15 victims. The  charges carry special allegations that Braff committed offenses against multiple victims, took  advantage of a position of trust, targeted particularly vulnerable victims, and committed the crimes  with planning and sophistication. 

Braff is accused of sexually abusing children over the course of two decades while working with  youth in Ventura County and beyond. The charges include allegations involving victims from  McKevett Elementary School in Santa Paula, Bright Star Schools in Los Angeles, and from Braff’s  time with the Conejo Recreation and Park District. 

Braff was originally arrested in November 2024 and charged with 17 felony counts involving  multiple student victims at McKevett Elementary School, where he worked as a school counselor  from 2015 to 2019. As the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation continued its work, additional  victims were identified, leading prosecutors to file amended complaints in April and October 2025  that expanded the case to 15 victims and 33 felony counts.  

Senior Deputy District Attorney Emily Reber, the office’s cold case sexual assault prosecutor, is  prosecuting the case. 

A further arraignment is scheduled for June 3, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom 12. Braff remains in  custody at the Ventura County Jail without bail. 

Case: 2024030779 

Defendant Information: 
David Lane Braff Jr. (DOB 05/28/82) 
Thousand Oaks, CA 

Charges: 

• (33 counts) PC 288(a) – Lewd act upon a child under 14 

Special Allegations: 

• PC 667.61(c)(e)(4) – Multiple victims 
• CRC 4.421(a)(3) – Victim was particularly vulnerable 
• CRC 4.421(a)(8) – Crime involved planning, sophistication, or professionalism 
• CRC 4.421(a)(11) – Defendant took advantage of a position of trust