How Could You? Hall of Shame-Christopher Mitchell

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Titusville, Florida, group home worker Christopher Mitchell,32,”was arrested Wednesday on multiple charges of sexually abusing a boy at the facility.

Christopher Mitchell, 32, of Mims was charged with attempted sexual battery of a child, use of a child in sexual performance, child abuse without great bodily harm, battery and computer solicitation for sex with a child.

He was released Thursday from the Brevard County Jail on $41,000 bond.

Titusville police and the Department of Children and Families were called to Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health on Wednesday in relation to the child abuse allegations, according to an arrest affidavit.

A program manager told investigators that a male resident was claiming Mitchell had been molesting him since his arrival at Devereux at the end of 2021, the affidavit said. The manager went through the boy’s phone and found several conversations between the boy and Mitchell on Instagram, including deleted photos and videos from the boy to Mitchell.

The manager told police Mitchell had faced disciplinary measures a couple months prior for supplying underage residents with vapes and communicating with them over social media and text messages, the affidavit said.

During an interview with police, the boy said Mitchell touched him every day, and that he touched his private areas. The boy said he was pressured into sending naked photos and videos of himself. He couldn’t give an exact number but estimated he sent about 20 photos or videos to Mitchell between February and July, the affidavit said.

The boy told police that if he did not send the requested videos or pictures, Mitchell would get other residents to fight him or not allow the boy to have extra food, the affidavit said.

Police said that the boy’s statements indicated Mitchell “exhibited grooming behavior toward (the boy) by allowing him to smoke his ‘vape’ as well as giving him survival tips for the facility,” and that the grooming behaviors progressed into Mitchell touching the boy.

Mitchell went to the Titusville Police Department on Wednesday to speak to detectives about the sexual allegations, an affidavit said. He told police he solicited the boy with a vape pen, saying he would give the boy the pen after receiving a naked picture.

Devereux provides services such as foster care support and mental health services to youth at facilities in 12 states. The 11-acre Titusville campus has three housing units, providing group care and specialized therapeutic group homes for boys. It offers a “safe therapeutic environment within a community-based setting,” according to their website.

Lisa Kroger, executive director of Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health Florida, said in a statement to FLORIDA TODAY that Mitchell was immediately placed on administrative leave following the allegations, and was subsequently fired.

“Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health supports the well-being of children and families to reach their highest potential,” she said. “We have zero tolerance for any situation, or any staff member, which compromises the safety and well-being of a child. The safe and effective care of those we serve is our top priority.”

No court date has been set. An attorney is not listed in court documents for Mitchell.

In 2020 and 2021, three Devereux employees at the campus near Viera were arrested in two separate cases involving abuse allegations.

In March 2020, two employees were arrested on charges including child abuse without great bodily harm and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, as well as child neglect and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

One employee was accused of grabbing a child’s neck and slamming his head against the ground, while the other appeared to try to block the security camera from capturing the incident, records show.

Both were fired, as well as two additional employees who witnessed the incident and did not report it. The other employees did not face criminal charges.

Adjudication was withheld in both cases, meaning the judge ordered probation but did not formally convict them of a criminal offense.

In September 2021, an employee was charged with battery and child abuse without great bodily harm after surveillance footage showed her striking a child during a game of basketball, an arrest affidavit said. She was fired from her position at Devereux. The charges were dropped by the State Attorney’s office.”

Employee at Devereux facility in Titusville accused of sexual abuse against child

[Florida Today 7/15/22 by Finch Walker]

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