claim: Director Victor Salva was convicted of child molestation.
origin: As the premiere of the horror flickÂ Jeepers Creepers 3Â approached in September 2017, many posted messages on social media to remind potential moviegoers about director Victor Salvaâ€™s criminal history: Salva was convicted in 1988 on charges related to the sexual molestation of 12-year-old actorÂ Nathan Forrest Winters during the filming of his movie Clownhouse.Â Salva served 15 months in prison and finished his parole in 1992. The Associated Press reported at the time: Salvaâ€™s criminal history was first brought to light before the release of his 1995 movieÂ Powder when Winters and his friends protested the movie. WintersÂ said that he couldnâ€™t believe that Disney would work with a child molester: At the time, Salva released a statement saying â€œHow deeply I regret my actions.â€ It continued:Â < I paid for my mistakes dearly. Now, nearly 10 years later, I am excited about my work as a film maker and look forward to continuing to make a positive contribution to our society. > Caravan Pictures, the company that madeÂ PowderÂ for Disney, also released a statement: < â€œHe paid for his crime, he paid his debt to society,â€ saidÂ Roger Birnbaum, whose Caravan Pictures made â€œPowderâ€ for Disney and reportedly didnâ€™t know of Salvaâ€™s record until the film was midway through production. â€œWhat happened eight years ago has nothing to do with this movie.â€ > More recently, Salvaâ€™s past hindered the casting ofÂ Jeepers Creepers 3Â when the web site Breakdown Services removed the casting call for a 13-year-old character (to be played by an 18-year-old) upon learning of Salvaâ€™s crime.Â Winters never starred in another movie.Â