Sexual Abuse Charges Dropped Against Camp Counselor

A lack of evidence has prompted prosecutors to drop sex abuse charges against a man who worked as a counselor at a Bethesda camp for girls, reports Montgomery Community Media.

Montgomery County Police arrested Jose Luis Casumbal Valenzuela, 43, of Washington, D.C., on July 10 on allegations he had inappropriate contact with an 11-year-old girl while he worked at the Holton-Arms Creative Summer camp in Bethesda. Valenzuela used the nickname “Jolly” to teach magic lessons to girls.

According to its website, the camp is offered by Holton Arms School, a college prep school for girls in grades 3-12.

The reported victim told police that Valenzuela touched her inappropriately during magic lessons when she attended the summer camp between June 30 and July 3. Valenzuela worked at the camp since the summer of 2012, police said.

He was charged with one count of third-degree sex offense and one count of sex abuse of a minor.

»Photo: Jose Luis Casumbal Valenzuela, courtesy of Montgomery County Police