by Bill Kisliuk
Pasadena Sun
The criminal case against the operator of a Pasadena boot camp for at-risk youth was delayed for at least a month at a brief hearing Wednesday.
Kelvin McFarland of Family First Growth Camp, who faces kidnapping and other charges related to his dealings with a juvenile client and her family earlier this year, waived his right to a speedy trial. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Teri Schwartz set a Dec. 14 hearing to plan the trial date.
Evan Dicker, a member of the Los Angeles County Alternate Public Defender’s office who is representing McFarland, said the trial would likely begin within 30 days after the Dec. 14 hearing.
Outside the courtroom, McFarland and Elpidio Estolas, who also works with Family First, said the agency continues to work with at-risk youth and that members will be feeding homeless people this weekend at Pasadena's Central Park. McFarland said the agency has served more than 1,300 meals this year.
McFarland, along with Keith Gibbs, a former Altadena town councilman who is another boot camp operator, is also facing scrutiny because of his possible role in using aggressive boot camp tactics in a 2009 incident. Pasadena police are looking into the case for child abuse charges after viewing videos showing boot camp operators forcing teens to drink water to excess and yelling at a boy from point-blank range as he is forced to wear a tire around his neck.
