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	Camp Denies Perv Warning By Chris Cassidy, O’Ryan Johnson, Laurel J. Sweet and Laura Crimaldi Boston Herald April 8, 2011 http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/2011_0408camp_denies_perv_warning_2_alleged_victims_step_forward/srvc=home&position=also Two new alleged victims stepped forward yesterday to claim they, too, were abused at the Christian camp on Cape Cod where an accused child molester apparently committed suicide Tuesday — even as the camp denied a claim by the man’s mother that she had warned them decades ago that he could pose a danger. “At no time was the issue of abuse raised,” the Sandwich camp said in a statement. Reached at her home, former Camp Good News director Faith Willard refused to respond to a Herald reporter’s questions about Sandra Devita’s fears concerning her son. “You can get all your information from the media. I have no comment,” she said. On Monday, in allegations filed with Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O’Keefe’s office, Chuck Devita was accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a 10-year-old boy in 1985 at the camp, according to attorney Mitchell Garabedian, who represents the alleged victim. Two other alleged victims came forward Wednesday to say they also were molested by Devita, Garabedian said. “Chuck Devita’s mom reporting her suspicions to the camp was a red flag,” Garabedian said. “Certainly, the camp supervisor should have removed Chuck Devita from employment and reported the matter to police — just to err on the side of caution if for no other reason. There’s no excuse. They should have had adequate safeguards in place.” The camp performs criminal and sexual offender background checks on employees, a spokeswoman said. Yesterday, Garabedian said, two more former campers reached out to him, pointing the finger at other alleged abusers. The camp attracted the attention of law enforcement earlier this year after U.S. Sen. Scott Brown revealed he was molested by an unidentified staffer. Yesterday, a former camp counselor said he also had warned the camp about Devita. Charles Lewis, a former camp manager, claimed he found child pornography — both pictures and videos — on Devita’s computer in 1997. No charges were filed. When he organized a meeting with Willard and Devita, Lewis said, he was alarmed by the director’s approach. “The question (Willard) asks him is, ‘Chuck, are you gay?’ which just baffled me,” Lewis said. That is nearly identical to the conversation Sandra Devita recalls having with Willard 24 years ago when she called to warn the director that her son could be a pedophile. “She was more worried about him being gay,” Devita said. “She made a statement, ‘Oh my God, I hope he’s not gay.’ I said, ‘Gay people don’t abuse children. Molesters abused children.’ ” Contact: ojohnson@bostonherald.com
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