Update: Victim’s family speaks out after allegation of misconduct by official
A mother is breaking her silence after her son was allegedly a victim of sexual misconduct through a mobile app by a former Yuma County employee.
Grindr is an online dating app many people that identify as LGBT use on their smartphones to make connections. The victim’s sister said that’s how her family was able to connect the pieces.
“He knew that my little brother was underage because he asked him. He didn’t know he had autism. He doesn’t look like a kid with autism, but my little brother is very easy to manipulate. If you keep telling him to do something, he will do it afterwards. Just the fact that he took advantage and that he still contacted him after that,” said Sandra Padilla.
69-year-old Scott Holt, the county’s former chief financial officer was in court again on Tuesday.
A prosecutor reviewed the police report and are alleging that Holt committed four separate offenses including distributing harmful items to a minor.
The case will be presented to a grand jury where a prosecutor will work with the jury to decide whether criminal charges will be brought against Holt. The preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 31.
The mother, Maria Padilla, says it was a Sunday afternoon when her son spoke out and showed them the conversations. She says she never thought her son would fall victim to a crime like this.
“I feel frustrated because it was something that I never imagined would happen. There has been so many cases. I never thought that this would happen to me and my family. My son is autistic. He has always been an introvert and always in his room. This man didn’t know my son’s condition. But I feel frustrated about the situation, for my son, and for the man because he has money and he is a well known man in Yuma,” said Maria Padilla.
Holt’s bail was set at $100,000; he has since posted bond.
Editors Note:In an interview we conducted with the sister, she identified Holt as a city of Yuma employee but Holt is not a city of Yuma employee he was a former Yuma County employee.
