School Principal Faces Charges

Prosecutors have accused a Thousand Oaks principal of failing to report child abuse at his elementary school, an accusation roiling the school district that is staunchly standing behind him.

The Ventura County district attorney says Bradley Miles, 43, violated a state law requiring so-called mandatory reporters -- professionals in contact with children -- to notify authorities immediately upon learning of an incident of alleged child abuse. He is charged with four misdemeanor counts that each carry a maximum of six months in jail.

The principal, who was at work Friday, has denied the charges, and the Conejo Valley Unified School District took the unusual step Friday of publicly defending him.

“Usually, a school district, on any personnel matter, takes a non-position. But we feel so strongly that Brad is innocent, that we’re going on record,” said Supt. Robert Fraisse. “We are privy to the facts of a very tricky and complex pupil matter.”

The charge stems from incidents that involved four fourth-graders, all 9 at the time, at Meadows Elementary School during the spring semester, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Lisa Lyytikainen.

Authorities declined to disclose what happened between the boys, because the case is still under investigation.

But David Ring, an attorney retained by parents of one of the fourth-graders, said his client was one of two boys who were assaulted and coerced into sexually touching each other by two schoolmates 15 to 20 times from January to May. The incidents occurred around campus, including on the playground and in the boys’ bathroom, he said.

Ring said the two boys were forced to take part in contests, such as foot races. Afterward, they would be told to fondle each other, the attorney said.

Ring said his client’s parents found out about the incidents when the parents of one of the alleged aggressors called them to say they had met with the principal after the boys were caught in the act at school.

Soon after, Miles allegedly downplayed the incident, telling the parents of one of the boys, “Boys will be boys,” Ring said.

Miles’ attorney, Phillip Dunn, strongly denies that his client ever used the phrase “boys will be boys” and said the principal took the accusations very seriously. Dunn also disputed Ring’s account of incidents, saying they were reported to be consensual.

“There is absolutely no evidence that any of these boys ever used physical force on any of the other boys,” Dunn said.

He declined to describe the acts, but added that they were what educators and psychologists call acting-out behavior.

“It could have been something they may have seen on TV,” Dunn said.

Under state law, school officials are required to report child abuse allegations to law enforcement.

Supt. Fraisse said Friday that Miles notified authorities in time, but he could not say when the principal learned of the alleged abuse and what day he notified police, because the matter is before the court.

As far as the district is concerned, the issues between the boys were resolved in June, he said.

“When the court becomes aware of the facts, we’re confident he will be exonerated,” Fraisse said. “Unfortunately, he’s going through a lot of personal and professional pain -- something we believe will go away.”

Fraisse said Miles is “an outstanding employee and well-respected school administrator in the district.”

Though he has been an employee of Conejo Valley Unified for several years, this is his first year as principal at Meadows Elementary.

Miles was previously a vice principal at a high school in the district.