Nicktoons Nickelodeon Studio worker jailed for fondling 14-year-old boy

BURBANK - A registered sex offender who worked as a production assistant at Nickelodeon Studios has been arrested on suspicion of felony child molestation after a 14-year-old boy said he was fondled at the studio, police said Friday.

Ezell Channel, 36, of Tarzana was jailed with bail set at $500,000 pending his scheduled arraignment Monday, officials said.

"This type of crime lends itself to recidivism, so we're seeking out any other potential victims or anyone who might have any information regarding this case or this individual," Burbank police Sgt. Jay Jette said.

Nickelodeon officials said Channel had been freelancing for Nickelodeon for about six months. The company has a policy of checking the backgrounds of regular employees who work with children, but didn't check backgrounds of freelancers.

Officials said the case has prompted them to change that policy.

They declined further comment.

Channel was arrested in the parking lot of the West Olive Avenue studio based on a tip from the boy's mother, who became suspicious and saw the suspect's name on the "Megan's Law" Web site, Jette said.

The Internet database of convicted sex offenders says Channel previously was found guilty of performing lewd and lascivious acts on a child under 14.

"Matters like this are very disturbing to law enforcement in general, especially when the protective devices put in place such as Megan's Law and the Megan's Law Web site can help both citizens and employers to protect the children of our community," Jette said.