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Founder of music program featured at Santa Ynez kids camp charged with child sex crimes

Posted at 10:51 AM, Sep 15, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-15 13:51:51-04

The founder of a music program that contracted with a Santa Ynez children’s camp from 2011 to 2015 was recently indicted on federal charges related to sexual crimes against children.

John Edward Zeretzke, 60, was arraigned Thursday in federal court in L.A. on a five-count indictment, alleging he coerced a girl to produce child pornography, attempted to entice another young victim to send him sexually explicit images, twice received child pornography online, and traveled to the Philippines with the intent to engage in sexual conduct with other minor victims.

The alleged crimes took place between 2015 and 2017.

According to the California Department of Justice, none of the victims are located in Southern California.

Zeretzke, who formerly taught music in a number of Southern California school districts, founded Flutes Across the World.

The program contracted with Circle V Ranch Camp and Retreat Center to provide music education to campers age 7 to 13 for week-long camps from 2011 to 2015, according to a press releasefrom the Camp.

“There have been no complaints or concerns about FAW and John Zeretzke from any campers, counselors or parents to Circle V staff,” Camp Director of Public Relations and Marketing Chris Sariego said in the statement.

The Camp also said it would monitor the situation “very closely and apprise you if anything changes as soon as possible.”

A report from NBC affiliate in October of 2017 detailed the DOJ and U.S. Postal Service investigation into Flutes Across the World after flutes distributed to several Southern California school districts were found to have been potentially contaminated with semen.

It was unclear Saturday if Zeretzke was in custody.