Drug Counselor Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Teen
HOLLYWOOD (CBS4) – A counselor at the Starting Place, a drug and rehabilitation treatment facility in Plantation, was arrested and charged after he allegedly sexually assaulted teenager.
According to the arrest affidavit, the 17-year old told police on September 21st, his state appointed drug treatment counselor 44-year old Raphael Castillo picked him up in his Jeep. At one point, Castillo allegedly put his hands down into the teen's pants and fondled him.
On October 10th, the teen told police Castillo picked him up again and then they drove to the area of N 35th Avenue and Van Buren Street in Hollywood where they parked in an alley. It was there that Castillo allegedly forced the teen to perform a sex act on him and then he sexually battered the teen.
The following day, Hollywood police arrested Castillo who reportedly confessed to two of the sex acts. He was charged with four counts of sexual battery on a minor.
During a hearing on Wednesday, bond was set at $20,000. Castillo, who is from Grenada, was also ordered to turn over his passport and not go anywhere near the Starting Place or the teen.
The Starting Place, which receives state funding and has several contracts with the Department of Children and Families, has gone through many changes since allegations surfaced in 2008 that female teenagers at their residential treatment center in Hollywood were being sexually abused. Six girls came forward to say that two former staffers had sexually abused them.
The Hollywood residential treatment center was closed down permanently and 45 teenagers who were undergoing treatment had to be relocated.
The new CEO of the Starting Place, Dr. Joel Kaufman, was once the head of the Broward United Way.
Kaufman released a statement that read in part:
"The Starting Place is thoroughly investigating the matter concerning Raphael Castillo and will cooperate with authorities. Mr. Castillo's employment with The Starting Place has been terminated. Our uppermost concern is for the client and his family and doing whatever we can to make sure they are receiving the assistance they need as they move through this process.
If any part of the allegations prove to be true, the actions would have been those of a rogue employee acting outside the normal course and scope of his employment and in a criminal manner. Anyone familiar with our organization knows that we would never tolerate something as inappropriate as the charges suggest."
