EL CAJON — A former employee of the El Cajon-based Christian Youth Theater pleaded guilty Wednesday to committing lewd acts on a 13-year-old girl who was enrolled in the after-school theater program, adding another conviction to a years-long pattern of alleged abuse tied to the organization.

David Hott, 39, was charged by the San Diego County District Attorney's Office in 2021 following a flood of allegations that emerged on social media accusing multiple CYT employees of sexually abusing underage students. Prosecutors say Hott groped the victim in his car in early 2007, when he was approximately 20 years old.

The victim, now in her 30s, testified during a jury trial last year that Hott offered her a ride home from a dinner attended by other CYT employees and students, then pulled over and sexually abused her. She also testified that he touched her inappropriately on multiple occasions until she was 15 and sent her graphic sexual text messages and voicemails.

Hott's defense attorney argued during the trial that the victim's accounts contained inconsistencies and lacked definitive evidence, and that civil claims against the organization played a role in the allegations. A San Diego jury deadlocked 10-2 in favor of guilt before Hott agreed to plead guilty to the charge.

Hott remains out of custody on $100,000 bail pending a May sentencing date. He is expected to receive credit for time served. His co-defendant Brad Christian Davis pleaded guilty in 2022 to a related sex crime involving a teenage girl and was sentenced to two years of probation. A civil lawsuit against Christian Youth Theater alleging abuse by multiple employees between 1991 and 2011 remains pending.