Former San Francisco YMCA camp counselor pleads not guilty to molestation charges
Evin "Devin" Blanchard, 24, is charged with 10 felonies including multiple counts of committing a lewd act upon a child and sending harmful matter to a minor and three misdemeanor counts of child molestation.
SAN FRANCISCO (KTVU) - A former San Francisco camp counselor who was arrested in Arizona last month pleaded not guilty today to child molestation and other charges.
Evin "Devin" Blanchard, 24, is charged with 10 felonies including multiple counts of committing a lewd act upon a child and sending harmful matter to a minor and three misdemeanor counts of child molestation.
He was ordered to stay away from three 12-year-old victims and one adult, and remains in custody with bail set at $5 million, according to Max Szabo, a spokesman for the district attorney's office.
Blanchard was arrested Sept. 15 in Phoenix, Arizona by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force.
Police began to investigate Blanchard after the Embarcadero YMCA's camp director reported that an adult counselor was having inappropriate contact with children, police said.
He is suspected of inappropriately touching three juvenile campers during several field trips, as well as sending them explicit images and videos through social media.
YMCA officials have said Blanchard no longer works for the organization and the nonprofit is working closely with police to provide all the information they need.
Spokeswoman Jane Packer has said the YMCA conducts a criminal background check on all employees as well as personal interviews and reference checks.