May 8, 2009 5:10 pm US/Pacific
Group Home Employee Accused Of Molesting Teens
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ―
A Sacramento man who helped troubled teens at a group home is under arrest and accused of molesting girls while on the job.
In a place where people are watching your every move, Sacramento County authorities say Jeffrey Caldwell was able to make major inappropriate moves this past February while working at the Sacramento County Assessment Center.
"This is more than just the normal troubled youth," authorities tell CBS13.
Kids at the center have been convicted of crimes and sentenced by the court.
"They go to this facility and stay until they are assessed and placed in a foster or group home," say authorities.
A 15 and 16-year-old girl waiting for assessment met Caldwell while he was an employee at the center.
"One day, investigators say Caldwell took one of the victims out of the facility with him, in a work truck, to go and get medicine for another youngster that was staying at the facility," authorities say. "Along the way they got the pills, but they also got a movie at Blockbuster. It was in the Blockbuster parking lot that authorities say Caldwell on duty molested the teenage girl in a company car."
If that wasn't enough, police say Caldwell used his phone to show two girls nude photos.
"Nobody gets to have misconduct or any kind of abuse of the children in our care," says a facility employee.
Sacramento County actually contracts assessment services out to a company called Quality Group Home, based out of Fresno.
Quality Group Home said today, as soon as one of the alleged victims made an outcry Caldwell was fired.
Investigators say Caldwell has not been cooperative. He had agreed to meet with them, but never showed up and then cancelled his cell phone. He also denied CBS13's request for an interview.
Caldwell is due in court on Monday.
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