More Charges Levied Against Kanakuk Employees
An in-the-know commenter brought this Ozarks Sentinel article to my attention/inbox this morning. In it, reporter Kathee Baird cites a Taney County arrest warrant for Lee Julian Bradberry, a 22-year-old Alabama resident, for a slew of alleged sexual offenses at Kanakuk Kamps in July 2011. All the lewd details, and there are many of them, are documented in the probable cause statement.
Speaking of statements, Kanakuk apparently issued this one to the Ozark Sentinel as a reaction to the arrest warrant.
Today a Missouri prosecutor charged Lee Bradberry, a former collegiate, summer staffer, with six counts related to incidents involving three campers during July 2011. We terminated Bradberry from his position in July 2011 after campers reported one incident in which Bradberry behaved inappropriately. As soon as this first indication of inappropriate behavior was brought to our attention, we immediately dismissed Bradberry and reported his behavior to the parents of the campers involved, law enforcement and child protection authorities. Law enforcement and child protection authorities began an investigation at that time. The ensuing investigation led to the discovery of other inappropriate behavior and ultimately to today’s charges.
After a brief search on Kanakuk’s website, I can find no evidence of it online. Although I did find a rather thorough outline of the “Child Protection Plan.”
It is sad to see that a once proud institution like Kanakuk is slowly crumbling from the fact that the administrators allowed counselors to stay for years after they were aware that sexual abuse had occurred numerous times over the years.
Seriously? This happens in the same year that the original abuse cases are being investigate and prosecuted? Clearly, the camp administrators are unable to operate a safe program…Kanakuk needs to shut its doors.
This 22 year old Auburn student may have been one of Pete Newman’s victims.
I will print out the charges and read through them with my 10&12 year olds before they head to camp this summer. We don’t go to Kanakuk, but I thought that would be the safest camp to attend in light of the issues with Pete. Yuck.
@Wow- You certainly could be right.
I have no doubt that Joe White is not intentionally hiring pedophiles, or after the events with Pete Newman, even looking the other way (as may have been the case in the past). At this point, however, he should retire. It is tone-deaf for him to do anything else. Tone-deaf in the same way the signs that say “This is OUR house” are tone-deaf.
as someone who knew and worked with both of these men, it was not apparent. kids, parents, and staff all adored and respected these two men and bragged on them non stop. there were multiple emails and letters sent over time bragging on both of them saying how wonderful they were year after year. it was not blatantly obvious, despite what outsiders may think. @wow, lee was one of petes victims.
I am so grateful that so far no one has used the words “Kamp” or “Kampers”. Thank you, commenters, for your uncharacteristic restraint.