Posted on 05/07/2002 8:34:46 AM PDT by blam
Youth worker charged over 'child toe-sucking attacks'
The head of a US youth recreation programme is facing allegations he has sucked the toes of over 40 children.
The police were alerted after a co-worker claimed to have seen Trenton Veches sucking one of the children's toes while working at Newport Beach in California.
Detectives launched an investigation and now allege the 31-year-old sucked the toes of more than 40 children, videotaping many of the incidents.
Veches is being held at the Orange County Jail on $500,000 bail and is facing multiple charges of child molestation.
He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and has resigned from his post, reports the Los Angeles Times.
Sergeant Steve Shulman said detectives searched Veches house and allegedly found a digital camera loaded with images of him sucking the toes of 45 partially-clad children, all boys between the ages of 6 and 10 years old.
Orange County Assistant District Attorney Rosemary Froeberg said there was no allegations of rape or fondling of sexual organs but authorities still considered it extremely serious.
She said: "It's the multiplicity of victims, the surrounding circumstances and his position as an administrator. Those kinds of things, given the predatory aspect of his behaviour, is a concern."
Under California law, child molestation is any touching of a child for sexual gratification, Ms Froeberg said. The city is providing counselling should any of the children or parents need it.
Story filed: 15:50 Tuesday 7th May 2002
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