South Bay Inmate-Work Agreement Terminated Following Science Camp Employee's Arrest On Child Porn Charges
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— An inmate work agreement in place for 25 years in Silicon Valley has been terminated following the high-profile arrest of a science-camp supervisor on child pornography charges.
Low-level offenders in Santa Clara County will no longer do work furloughs at Walden West as part of the Santa Clara County Office of Education's adjustment to the agreement.
The contract for weekend labor was cancelled two days after inquiries by the San Jose Mercury News.
Edgar Covarrubias-Padilla, a night manager and counselor at the popular science camp for kids, was arrested May 7th on child pornography charges. Prosecutors filed additional charges against the 27-year-old, known to kids as "Papa Bear", including committing a lewd and lascivious act on a child under the age of 14 and production and distribution of child pornography.
Santa Clara County Sheriff James Jensen stresses the workers are low-level offenders, convicted of DUI or minor drug offenses. He said the inmates perform custodial duties or lawn maintenance/landscaping duties.
Covarrubias-Padilla was a trained work-furlough supervisor, who according to Jensen, attended an eight-hour class required once a year as a part of his training.
Walden West's youth camp for 5th and 6th graders has sites in Saratoga and Cupertino.
