A former behavioral health clinician in California, Sofia Drotts, 26, has been charged with multiple felony offenses, including unlawful sexual intercourse, for allegedly grooming and raping a 17-year-old boy she met while working at John A. Davis Juvenile Hall.

Prosecutors state that Drotts, of San Francisco, engaged in sexual acts with the minor between April 1 and July 14. The alleged abuse began while the boy was in juvenile hall, where Drotts was assigned as his therapist. According to court documents filed by attorney John Burris, who represents the victim's family, Drotts allegedly used her position to establish an inappropriate emotional connection with the boy, identified as John Doe, for the purpose of sexual abuse. This grooming reportedly started when Doe was 14 or 15 years old and serving a two-year sentence.

After the boy's release, Drotts allegedly continued to have unlawful sexual contact with him. The court papers also indicate that a team of county agents and supervisors failed to identify warning signs or adequately supervise Drotts, allowing the abuse to continue. Burris stated that the county's system failed to protect his client.

Drotts was arrested on July 14 by Concord Police following a tip from a probation department supervisor. She has since been released from custody, according to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s office.

The victim's mother expressed deep betrayal, stating, "We trusted this professional with our son’s healing and well-being, and that trust was fundamentally shattered." She added that the family is speaking out to protect other potential victims and encourage anyone who has been harmed to come forward.

Additional charges against Drotts include sexual penetration by a foreign object, sending harmful matter to a minor, oral copulation of a person under 18, and possession of child pornography. The Contra Costa District Attorney’s office confirmed that an arraignment date will be set.

According to social media posts and a university publication, Drotts is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where she studied psychology and earned certificates in criminal justice, gender and women studies, and Chicano/a Latino/a studies. A 2022 post from the university highlighted her plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Palo Alto University after graduation. She reportedly identified herself as a Spanish speaker and a native of Chicago.

The victim's family has also filed a separate civil lawsuit against the county concerning the matter.