Former NWA summer camp counselor accused of child sex crimes pleads not guilty
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A former counselor at a Northwest Arkansas summer camp accused of child sex crimes has pleaded not guilty, according to court documents.
Alexander Baiza, 22, of Olathe, Kansas, was arrested on March 28 on pandering or possessing visual or print medium depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child and two sexual indecency with a child charges.
On Feb. 23, a parent came forward to Fayetteville police and reported grooming and sexual communications between their child and Baiza, according to an affidavit.
The parent who reported the incident believed their child knew Baiza because he was one of their camp counselors at Camp War Eagle, a “Christian sports, adventure and recreation summer camp,” according to its website.
Former NWA summer camp counselor accused of child sex crimes
The messages included Baiza performing sexual acts while fully nude. The affidavit said his face was visible in multiple images.
Baiza reportedly asked the victim for nude photos on numerous occasions and received them on at least nine occasions.
During a recorded call, Baiza admitted what he did was wrong and that he was aware of the victim’s age. The affidavit says he told the Fayetteville Police Department he was only 18 years old, but documents in his work file received by the department said he was 21 years old at the time of the report.
Fayetteville police issued an arrest warrant on March 8 and it was served in Adams County, Iowa on March 28.
Baiza’s trial date has been set for July 15.
KNWA/FOX24 reached out to Camp War Eagle for comment but did not hear back.
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