Man Who Acted As Youth Mentor Arrested For Sex Crimes
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DALLAS (CBS11) - A 61-year-old man who styled himself as a youth mentor is behind bars, charged with committing sex crimes against the teens in his program.
Police raided the West Dallas apartment of Ernest Green on Wednesday.
Green turned himself into investigators.
He faces three felony counts of indecency with a child, charges which Green told police he denies.
Officers began investigating Green on August 2nd, after a report of possible sexual abuse. The accusations were made by teenage boys, ages 13 through 16.
Green is the founder and sole operator of a youth mentoring program called United Youth Core, which he ran out of his apartment on Bickers Street.
According to the arrest warrants, the program has existed since at least 2011. The victims told police their parents signed a form so they could join. At Green's home, they would play the latest video games on Xbox or Play Station. The teens also said Green would take them to Six Flags, Hurricane Harbor, and Chuck E. Cheese.
In the arrest warrant affidavits, the victims made statements that Green had a camera inside and outside of his apartment which he watched on his computer. A victim told police Green placed his hand inside his pants and underwear and would touch him.
Another victim told police, there was a place in Green's king bed that the man referred to as 'the spot' where he would ask one of the teens to sleep next to him. The victim told police Green tried to have sex with him there.
The victims told police they were afraid to tell anyone about what happened - up until a few days ago.
"He was kind of a nice guy, but if you were on his bad side, he started being mean," said De'Andre, a 17 year old who would go the apartment with other teens. De'Andre says he was never touched by Green.
On a Facebook page for the United Youth Core, Green wrote a statement in 2012, asking for donations to the program. Part of the statement reads:
"...the children in our program have faced many difficulties in their young lives… you can offer them the strength, help and encouragement they need to develop and grow."
One mom who lives in the apartment complex told CBS 11 News that some of the single mothers in the community were looking for mentors for their teenage sons. They believed Green was fulfilling that role.
Crystal Dorman says she considered letting her son join the program, and feels like it's a blessing she did not.
"I thank God. I don't want my child to go through something. That's sad for any child," Dorman said.
She says Green told her his program was full, and he could not take in any more members.
"There was always a lot of kids going in and out. Little boys, big boys. I've never seen the girls, but I've always seen a lot of boys," said Ola Pennant, a neighbor.
Dallas police are asking anyone with additional information on Green, who anyone who knows of additional victims, to contact Dallas Police Detectives at (214)671-4215.
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