The Antelope Valley Times

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Juvenile camp therapist to stand trial for molesting boy

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A former Camp Mendenhall therapist pleaded not guilty today after being ordered to stand trial for sexual conduct with a 16-year-old boy, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.

Ana Patricia Moennich, 35, faces one felony count each of contact with minor for sexual offense and oral copulation of a person under 18, according to Deputy District Attorney Seth Carmack.

She is also charged with a misdemeanor count of child molesting.

She pleaded not guilty to the charges Tuesday after being held to answer on all counts on Sept. 23.

A pretrial hearing is scheduled for Nov. 4 at Antelope Valley Courthouse.

Moennich worked as a therapist at Camp Mendenhall where the victim served a juvenile sentence, the prosecutor said.

She is charged with having sexual relations with the teen between April 27, 2013 and Nov. 22, 2013 while he attended therapy sessions, according to the prosecuter.

If convicted as charged, Moennich faces up to six years in state prison.

The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

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[Information via press release from the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office.]

Filed Under: Crime/ Safety

8 comments for "Juvenile camp therapist to stand trial for molesting boy"

  2. Something tells me the Juvenile wasn’t damaged by this encounter. For a Juvenile to actually be incarcerated and ordered to do therapy, he had to be a serious criminal.

  4. Their protocol needs to change on how mental health counselors/ teachers / probation officers and juveniles offenders interact in confine areas. Some type of safe guard protocol MUST be in place. Like a heavy glassed door or room with one way viewing glass is open for viewing by a supervisor ( without the sound or with sound and digital recording). WE have lots of predators who pretend to be coaches, priests, youth counselors, teachers, probation officers and other occupations which come in contact with juveniles. These juvenile delinquent offenders is far from being innocent (they are also predators ). There are cases where female/male correction officers/ deputies and others who have ALLOW themselves be been manipulate by inmates. In these type cases she/he should go to prison as anyone who under color of authority over juveniles should be held to a higher standard. No probation of any type.

      • Yes of course the person of authority can and have manipulated inmates and juvenile offenders. It can go both ways but who is really receiving the benefit of the situation? Money for drugs, sex for drugs. The inmate DOES NOT face the same consequence as the government official who allows themselves to be used. In this case the parents of this juvenile offender will get paid from the county (AKA taxpayers). It is a win win for them and a loss loss for us the public.

  5. I hope it’s not true. Those poor children are already so damaged! To be molested by a person pretending to help you recover from years of poor parenting is a cruel betrayal.