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	More Claims of Abuse at Camp Good News By Craig Salters Wicked Local - Sandwich Broadsider April 11, 2011 http://www.wickedlocal.com/capecod/features/x782058553/11-now-claim-abuse-at-Camp-Good-News#axzz1JFgI1odB Boston attorney Mitchell Garabedian says that 11 people have now made contact with his office alleging abuse at Camp Good News in Sandwich. That number includes an original client whose allegations led to an investigation of Charles “Chuck” Devita, 43, by Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O’Keefe’s Office. Devita, who had also worked at one point for the Sandwich Community School and the Riverview School in Sandwich, died April 6 on the campgrounds of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Garabedian made clear that not all of the allegations concern Devita. He also emphasized discussions with the possible victims are preliminary at this point. “I really can’t comment,” said Garabedian. “I’ve only just begun my investigation.” That said, Garabedian, whose experience in child abuse cases includes the sexual abuse scandal by several clergy members of the Archdiocese of Boston, said he is receiving calls. “It’s a snowball effect,” said Garabedian. “Victims, by speaking out, are encouraging other victims to come forward.” Located along Route 130, Camp Good News first received national attention this February when advance copies of “Against All Odds,” a memoir written by Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown, began circulating. In the book, Brown writes of sexual abuse at the hands of an unnamed camp worker at an unnamed summer camp on Cape Cod in the 1970’s. That camp was later identified as Camp Good News. Senator Brown refused to identify his abuser and said he had moved forward from the incident. Early last week, however, O’Keefe’s office confirmed media reports that it had launched an investigation into sexual abuse at the camp alleged to have occurred sometime around 1985. That claim was made by a former camper, now a 36-year-old man and a client of Garabedian’s, who said the employee still worked at the camp. That revelation was followed April 6 by news that Devita had died of an apparent suicide in a wooded area of the camp. Authorities did not reveal the name of the victim but, later in the day, the district attorney confirmed that the victim had been “the subject of a recent allegation of abuse of a child.” Since that day Camp Good News, who through a spokeswoman has emphasized its cooperation with the investigation, has had to deal with a firestorm of controversy. Later that week Garabedian announced that several more potential victims had contacted him. In addition, the camp was forced to deny an allegation made my Sandra Devita, the mother of Chuck Devita, that she had warned camp officials of the potential for abuse. Another setback for the camp occurred when the American Camp Association revoked its accreditation of the Christian summer camp. That same day the camp announced it would not open this summer. “Camp Good News understands and respects the American Camp Association’s decision,” camp officials said in a prepared statement. Despite Devita’s death, the allegation of abuse remains under investigation by state police detectives assigned to O’Keefe’s office and the Sandwich police. Senator Scott Brown’s office has made clear that the senator had never even met Devita and he was not Brown’s alleged abuser.
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