Former Counselor Admits Sexually Molesting Youth

A former volunteer counselor for a Ventura County crisis-intervention organization has pleaded guilty to sexually molesting a 16-year-old boy who sought help from the service, authorities said Tuesday.

Gene Randall, 56, of Camarillo, pleaded guilty Monday to six counts of oral copulation with a minor, a spokeswoman for the county district attorney’s office said.

Sentencing was set for Aug. 18 in Ventura Superior Court, the spokeswoman said. Randall faces a maximum sentence of six years in prison.

Randall, who was named Camarillo Man of the Year in 1976 by the local Chamber of Commerce, resigned April 15 as chairman of the board of the Camarillo Community Bank, bank president Robert Means said. Randall had helped found the bank in 1979, he said.

Volunteer in Progam

Randall, who also operated a mortgage-brokering business, met the teen-ager last year through a program sponsored by Interface Children and Family Services of Ventura County, Sheriff’s Detective Jean Edwards said. Randall was a volunteer for the organization, which provides counseling and shelter to runaways and homeless children, she said.

Most of the sex acts took place in Randall’s car and in his Oxnard brokerage office from October, 1985, to December, 1986, Edwards said.

In May, the boy’s family filed a $30-million lawsuit in Ventura County Superior Court against Randall, Interface Children and Family Services and the United Way.