Bethesda Camp Counselor Charged With Inappropriately Touching Minor

UPDATED A Washington D.C. man was charged on Friday with one count of third-degree sex offense and one count of sex abuse of a minor, according to Montgomery County Police.

PHOTO | MCPD

Jose Luis Casumbal Valenzuela, 43, of the 5400 block of Connecticut Avenue, was arrested for having inappropriate contact with an 11-year-old child while he worked as a counselor at the “Holton-Arms Creative Summer” camp in Bethesda, police said.

Police said Valenzuela had been an employee at the camp since 2012 and he was in charge of teaching magic classes. On June 30 and July 3, police said the victim told detectives that Valenzuela would inappropriately touch her during those lessons.

Children at the camp knew Valenzuela as “Jolly.”

Detectives are asking anyone who was a victim of Valenzuela or has information about this case to call the Special Victims Investigations Division at 240.773.5460.

Susanna Jones, the head of Holton Arms School, has posted a statement about the incident on the school’s website. You can read her statement here.

About Aline Barros

Aline Barros is a multimedia reporter and community engagement specialist with Montgomery Community Media. She can be reached at Abarros@mymcmedia.org and on Twitter at @AlineBarros2.

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