Camp counselor charged with sexual assault
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

A 29-year-old Agoura Hills man who has worked as a tutor for children and as a camp counselor was arrested by Ventura County Sheriff's Department deputies on charges of sexual assault of a child. The arrest took place at the home of the accused man last week as deputies executed a search warrant.

James McEnnan was charged with sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl he met when he was a counselor at a Thousand Oaks theatrical summer camp in 2007.

McEnnan allegedly began a sexual relationship with the girl in November 2007 and continued the relationship until last month.

According to a police report, McEnnan is said to have sent, on several occasions, sexually explicit videos of himself to the victim using the Internet.

McEnnan was booked at the East County Sheriff's Station in Thousand Oaks on May 6 and charged with 13 felony counts including eight counts of lewd act upon a child, two counts of oral copulation, two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse and one count of sending harmful matter to a child using the Internet.

McEnnan's bail was set at $100,000, but later increased to $825,000.

In addition to being an instructor at a youth camp, McEnnan is employed as a tutor specializing in teaching children in the entertainment industry.

Because he holds a position of trust and has frequent access to children, investigators from the East County Sheriff 's Department's sexual assault unit are concerned there may be other victims.

Investigators are asking for the public's help in identifying anyone who may have been a victim of crimes similar to those McEnnan allegedly committed. Anyone with information about McEnnan's activities can contact Detective Greg Tougas of the sexual assault unit at (805) 371-8397.

Ventura County Sheriff 's Department Detective Eric Buschow warns parents against giving their children unlimited access to the Internet. The detective compared parents who allow children unsupervised access to the Internet to those who fail to lock up their liquor cabinet or leave their firearms unprotected.

"We have to protect our kids," Buschow said.

He suggested parents make sure software is passwordprotected or that they find other ways to monitor their children and keep them safe.

"If they have Internet access, they have access to anything and everything," he said.

Computers should not be in a child's room but in a communal part of the house, and children should not be left home alone with the Internet, Buschow said.