Yosemite Park chef charged with disgusting crime against teen coworker

A 38-year-old chef at a restaurant in Yosemite National Park was charged by a federal grand jury for sexually abusing a 19-year-old co-worker.

Danavon Caine, a Jamaican citizen working on a seasonal international visa, allegedly invited the co-worker to hang out after their work shifts around 11:30 p.m. on July 17, federal prosecutors said. The teen, also a chef, agreed after having spent time with Caine before.

The two walked from Yosemite Valley Lodge to where Caine was staying in a housing area, according to court documents. They then sat on a cot and looked at the stars while chatting when Caine allegedly began to talk about sex.

“And this entire time, I’m like, this guy’s my friend, we aren’t doing that stuff,” she told authorities.

The 19-year-old woman claimed her mind suddenly “went black” as Caine allegedly began to take her clothes off, which she said was “may[be] … consensual at first.” 

After Caine tried to perform oral sex, the woman alleged she told him to stop four to five times and pushed him.

“He didn’t stop,” she told investigators.

Caine, who claimed the encounter was consensual, allegedly initiated sexual intercourse even as the co-worker said she continued to ask him to stop, authorities said. He allegedly placed a hand on her throat, leaving a red mark on her neck and making her fear she would be strangled or killed, court documents said.

“Now I’m, like pushing him like much harder, with as much force as I can use,” she said. “And only then did he actually get up.”

Caine then walked her home, but she panicked afterward and went to her friend’s house at 1 a.m. The friend encouraged her to report the incident to police.

The man later allegedly texted the teenager, “did you tell a lie on me or something?” and “If you did please make it right because you know I wouldn’t harm you or anyone in any way.”

Caine is charged with two counts of sexual abuse and, if convicted, faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine.

He worked at the Mountain Room, a restaurant at the lodge with views of the 2,424-foot-high Yosemite Falls. Open year-round, it offers steaks, seafood and pastas.

The space is operated by Aramark Corporation, which manages lodgings, restaurants and gift shops.

“The safety and well-being of our employees remain our highest priority, and we have zero tolerance for harassment of any kind,” Aramark spokesperson Chrissie Dwyer told SFGate.

“We fully cooperated with authorities throughout their investigation, and the individual involved is no longer employed by our organization.”

The National Park Service declined to comment on pending criminal cases.

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