The entrance to China Spring Youth Camp located south of Gardnerville in the Pinenut Mountains.
Photo by Kurt Hildebrand.
On Monday, interim China Spring Youth Camp Director Dr. Jenna Sexton found herself fielding questions from members of the camp’s advisory board about last week’s arrest of a counselor for allegedly having sex with two 17-year-old residents.
The advisory board consists of representatives from juvenile probation offices across the state.
Counselor Daryan Benka, 25, was arrested Friday on two counts of sexual conduct with children under the care, custody, control of supervision of the camp. Benka was ordered to appear in the East Fork Justice Court in Minden at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 8, 2024, for her initial court appearance and arraignment.
Sexton said camp officials talked to the juveniles on Benka’s caseload right after she was fired in October.
She said that the staff has been keeping up with the residents.
Churchill County Juvenile Probation Chief Motulalo Otuafi and Carson City Chief Ali Banister asked if they would be informed if investigators spoke with juveniles from their jurisdictions.
Benka worked for the camp as a case manager and counselor from June 2020 to October 2023, where she conducted assessments and provided counseling to several juveniles who were committed to the camp.
“I would like to know if a Carson kid was involved and how to field those questions, if parents contact me,” Banister said.
Otuafi asked if there would be repercussions for juveniles who discussed the issue amongst themselves.
Sexton said that several juveniles who had just returned from a weekend pass likely already knew about the arrest.
Douglas County Assistant District Attorney Kari Rosser said she would find out if it was possible for the other jurisdictions to be notified when an investigation was underway.
The arrest came at a time of transition for the camp after long-time director Wendy Garrison retired and governance of the camp is shifting from the courts to the county.
Douglas County commissioners are scheduled to hear an ordinance that would bring the camp under the county manager’s office and establish a new advisory committee.
Hiring a new director for the camp would have to wait until the new ordinance is in place should it be approved following the Jan. 18 meeting. A new advisory committee consisting of representatives of the counties that send juveniles to the camp along with a district judge and the sheriff would be formed by the ordinance, Rosser said.
