Graford, Texas - YMCA Camp Grady Spruce Counselor James Barth Fired, Charged with Sexually Abusing a Camper

Former YMCA Camp Grady Spruce Employee Accused of Child Sex Abuse

An employee for YMCA Camp Grady Spruce in North Texas has been fired and arrested for allegedly sexually abusing a child at the camp in 2018. 20-year-old James Whitney Barth was arrested on Friday, October 18 and charged with one count of aggravated sexual assault of a child.

A parent contacted the Palo Pinto Sheriff's Office to report an alleged incident of sexual abuse described to them by their child.

Barth was fired immediately following his arrest. In addition to YMCA Camp Grady Spruce, Barth has also worked at Collin County Adventure Camp.

Authorities are concerned that there could be other victims because Barth's position put him in contact with many children. Parents whose children have attended these two camps have been asked to talk with their children and report any possible inappropriate behavior to the authorities.

Parents who believe that their children may have been victims are asked to call the Palo Pinto County Sheriff's Department at 940-659-2085 or the Collin County Sheriff's Department at 972-547-5100.

Legal Recourse For Summer Camp Sex Abuse Victims & Their Families

Attorney contributor Marc Lenahan represents sex abuse victims and their families in civil lawsuits, helping them find justice. Marc has some information to share regarding the legal rights of families affected by sexual abuse in youth summer camps:

In any field where adults work with children, it's crucial to have precautionary measures in place to keep those children safe from sexual predators. Sadly, these predators often seek out positions of trust where they'll have access to children. Summer camps and other youth organizations must do everything they can to prevent sexual abuse within their organization.

When sexual abuse is reported at a summer camp, it's important to investigate both the accused perpetrator and the summer camp organization. A criminal investigation will be launched against the accused, but the organization should also be investigated to determine if any form of negligence allowed the abuse to occur. For example, an organization could be considered negligent if they had dismissed previous reports of sexual misconduct or inappropriate behavior by the accused.

In cases of summer camp sexual abuse that involve negligence, the victim and their family may have grounds for a lawsuit against the organization.

If you or your child is a survivor of sexual abuse at a summer camp, you can learn more about your family's legal rights by speaking with an experienced sex abuse victims lawyer.

Sources:

https://www.wbap.com/2019/10/22/employee-at-collin-county-camp-fired-arrested-on-child-sex-charge/

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2019/10/22/man-who-worked-at-ymca-camps-in-north-texas-arrested-on-child-sexual-assault-charge/