HAMILTON TOWNSHIP- A 19-year-old exchange student who is accused by at least 10 girls at Camp Butterworth of fondling them was "leaving for Tanzania immediately," a Warren County assistant prosecutor said Wednesday night.
Rachel Hutzel would not elaborate on what the woman's departure might mean for the county's investigation into allegations that the counselor rubbed the breasts and buttocks of 10- and 11-year-old girls Sunday at the Warren County camp.
Police did not file charges Wednesday, but said their investigation continues.
Ms. Hutzel said she was told of the counselor's plan to leave the country by the woman's lawyer, Susan Necheles, of New York City. Ms. Necheles could not be reached Wednesday.
News of the woman's planned return to Tanzania capped off a day of reaction:
A lawyer for the firm that recommended the counselor for the Warren County camp denied there was fondling. Francine Radford, lawyer for Camp Counselors USA, said camp directors reported the counselor talked to the girls about sex, but, "There is no evidence of sexual misconduct on the counselor's part. The woman is very upset by these allegations."
Local and national Girl Scout officials said Camp Butterworth leaders did nothing wrong in their handling of the matter. "We're sorry that it happened, and we are as angered as the parents are," said Barbara Bonifas, executive director of the Great Rivers Girl Scout Council, which operates the camp.
Warren County authorities repeated that charges against the camp are possible. Officials say camp leaders should have notified them sooner.
Leaders for the Girl Scouts said they needed time to interview the girls involved in the alleged incident before contacting authorities. They also allowed the counselor to board a bus for New York to avoid further contact with the campers.
"We thought we were doing the right thing," Ms. Bonifas said. "We always knew where she was. We could have stopped her at any time. We take this very seriously."
She said all prospective counselors undergo background checks. A spokeswoman for the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. on Wednesday also said the local council handled the incident properly.
"The priority was the parents and the girls," said Claudia Davis, media relations director for Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., based in New York City. "We've been pleased with the way the incident was handled."
Warren County authorities, however, said they were displeased that the camp allowed the counselor to leave and waited almost 12 hours before contacting them Monday night.
"They are supposed to call us immediately with the names and addresses of all the people involved," said Patti Jacobs, a spokeswoman for Warren County Children Services. "It doesn't appear they handled this correctly."
The organization is considered a "mandatory reporter" of such incident to children services, she said. That means state law requires camp leaders to notify authorities immediately when allegations of sexual misconduct are made.
By not reporting the incident immediately with the appropriate information, Ms. Hutzel said, it could hinder investigators. "We're moving forward . . . but we've got such sketchy information right now," she said.
The counselor, identified as Namsembiaeli Nduma, was hired through California-based Camp Counselors USA.
On June 11, the counselor, with other camp counselors, underwent training related to dealing with young children, a Warren County official said.
Ms. Jacobs said she gave a two-hour seminar telling counselors what to look for in children who had been molested and how to report it. Camp Counselors USA recruits, screens and matches counselors with camps based on their skills, Ms. Radford said. Counselors submit a lengthy application, are interviewed and provide references and medical information.
Ms. Radford said she was not aware of any incidents involving counselors hired by the company, founded in 1986.
Local Girl Scout leaders said they will examine their policy related to sexual misconduct.
"You think a procedure is workable, but it can always be made better," Ms. Bonifas said.
Enquirer contributor Linda Fish-Oda contributed to this report.
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