Gary Goddard

Goddard — a writer, director, producer, and the founder entertainment design company the Goddard Group — has, through a spokesman, “unequivocally” denied the allegations in the past. He took a leave from his own company in late November in the wake of the claims. Goddard was accused in 2014 of sexually abusing Michael Egan III when he was 16. The suit was later dismissed. After graduating from Santa Barbara High School in 1970, attending California Institute of the Arts, and later landing a job at Walt Disney Imagineering in 1976, Goddard would return to Santa Barbara, directing youth productions, including “Peter Pan,” “The Music Man,” and “Jesus Christ Superstar.” In addition to Edwards, his proteges at the time included Linus Huffman, Bret Nighman, and Mark Driscoll.