Victor Salva Sexually Abused a 12-Year-Old Actor. Then Hollywood Gave Him His Career Back.

 

Victor Salva Sexually Abused a 12-Year-Old Boy. Hollywood Let Him Come Back.

Victor Salva is the filmmaker behind Jeepers Creepers and its sequels.

But years before those movies made him famous, Salva was convicted of sexually abusing a child.

While directing Clownhouse in 1988, Salva sexually abused Nathan Forrest Winters, a 12-year-old actor in the film. Authorities also discovered that Salva possessed child sexual abuse material.

Salva pleaded guilty to charges including lewd conduct with a minor and oral copulation with a child under 14.

He was sentenced to three years in prison.

He served approximately 15 months.

Then he returned to filmmaking.

Salva went on to direct major studio projects, including Disney's Powder, and later created the commercially successful Jeepers Creepers franchise.

That is what makes this story bigger than one convicted offender.

A child was sexually abused by the adult directing him.

The director went to prison.

Then an industry with full knowledge of his conviction gave him his career back.

Nathan Forrest Winters has spent years speaking publicly about what happened to him.

His abuser got movie deals.

That belongs in The Accountability Archive.