A San Francisco YMCA summer camp counselor suspected of child molestation and sending sexually explicit images and videos to children was arrested in Arizona on Thursday, according to police. Jean Elle reports.
A San Francisco YMCA summer camp counselor suspected of child molestation and sending sexually explicit images and videos to children was arrested in Arizona on Thursday, according to police.
Evin "Devin" Blanchard, 24, is suspected of inappropriately touching three juvenile campers during several field trips, as well as sending them explicit images and videos through social media, police said.
Police began to investigate Blanchard after the camp director at the Embarcadero YMCA reported that an adult counselor was having inappropriate contact with children, police said.
Vijay Bhaskaran said his 12- and 14-year-old kids attended summer camp where Blanchard worked for nine weeks. He's hoping they never met him.
"As I tell my kids, there are weird people out there. I will watch out for you, but you have to watch out for yourself and tell me what's going on," Bhaskaran said.
In a statement, the "Y" says safety of the kids in its programs is paramount. It does not allow staff to be alone with campers, has a no outside contact policy and does background checks.
"This individual no longer works for the organization," the YMCA said. "We’re working closely with authorities to make sure whatever information they need they get."
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The U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force apprehended Blanchard in Phoenix. Once extradited to San Francisco, police are expecting to ask the District Attorney's Office to charge Blanchard with five counts of child molestation, four counts of sending harmful material to a minor, production of child pornography and three counts of annoying or molesting a child.
The Marshals Service said Blanchard has an extensive criminal history that includes an arrest for weapons offenses in California.
Police ask anyone who feels they might have been victimized to call the department at (415) 558-5500.
