California Therapist Accused of Grooming and Abusing Teen She Counseled at Juvenile Detention Center

A California behavioral clinician is facing serious charges after prosecutors say she groomed and sexually abused a teenage boy she was counseling at a juvenile detention center. Sofia Ann-Buitron Drotts, 26, allegedly started the relationship with the boy when he was 14 or 15 years old. Court documents claim she used a burner phone to communicate with him after his release and even masqueraded as his girlfriend to hide the abuse from his family.

The boy’s mother says she trusted Drotts with her son’s healing and well-being, and that trust was“fundamentally shattered.”A supervisor at the detention center eventually tipped off police, leading to Drotts’arrest on July 14, 2026. The family has since filed a claim against the county, arguing that supervisors missed red flags that could have stopped the abuse sooner. Attorney John Burris, who is representing the family, called the alleged behavior“outrageous.”

This case raises hard questions about oversight in juvenile detention centers and mental health systems. How do we protect vulnerable kids when the people hired to help them cross the line? It’s a conversation that needs to happen, especially for parents trusting professionals with their children’s futures. What do you think should change to prevent this from happening again? Drop your thoughts in the comments.