Counselor accused of sex acts with teen in closet at trauma program, AZ cops say
A 48-year-old counselor is accused of performing sex acts with a teenage girl at a trauma treatment program in Arizona, police said.
Christopher Lamont Allen was arrested Sept. 4 on two counts of sexual conduct with a minor in Queen Creek, the police department said in a probable cause statement.
Allen is accused of engaging in sex acts with a 17-year-old girl at Desert Lily Academy, a residential trauma treatment program, police said.
Police said he worked as a “coach counselor” and monitored the children who lived on the campus in the cottages.
The teen reported the incident to other workers, prompting the investigation, police said.
At the time of the incident, Allen was working at the staff desk in the lobby, police said, while the girl was sleeping on the couch a few feet from his desk because she was under “watch.”
She was at risk of “running away and harming herself,” police said.
Allen is accused of meeting her twice in a closet after midnight on July 27, when he engaged in sex acts with her for several minutes, police said.
Surveillance cameras captured the teen and Allen going into the closet, police said.
He was suspended from his job Sept. 3, police said, then arrested the next day.
Desert Lily Academy is a program through Rite of Passage.
Rite of Passage did not immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment Sept. 8.
The program specializes in helping girls who have a history in commercial sexual exploitation and human trafficking, according to its website.
Police said the teen girl had a history of being sex trafficked in Texas and previously had been “the victim of sex crimes by a person in a position of trust.”
Allen’s bail was set at $150,000, and his next court hearing is Sept. 11, according to court documents.
Queen Creek is in the Phoenix metro area.
