Boy Scout Leader Guilty of Child Porn

This one is almost too slimy to start a thread on, but it involves a person with great influence over the lives of children who has betrayed the public trust. The way it has been handled in the media, by the courts, and by the individual himself leads me to believe that we are just seeing the tip of an iceberg of abuse here. This guy used to head up the Boy Scouts prevention of abuse efforts! Very possibly he was doing alot more than looking at pictures. The investigation continues, and others are being brought to justice, but the slap on the wrist this guy is getting just doesn't add up. He plead guilty so fast, the ink wasn't dry on the charges.

I found this link, and there are others.

slimeball!

The potential for a connection to child porn rings and other unspeakable activities is way to high for me to remain silent on this one.

Here's another link, including a link to the charges against this jerk. Can you believe he was released without bond? The Boy Scouts need to do some serious house cleaning.

"The Boy Scouts have had other problems with their personnel, including volunteers. A California court case in the early 1990s revealed about 2,000 cases of sexual abuse of scouts and other boys that Boy Scouts officials in Irving had documented privately for two decades without telling law enforcement officials."

slimeball2





[edit on 4-4-2005 by Icarus Rising]

[edit on 4-4-2005 by Icarus Rising]

Any large youth organization will have scandal such as this from time to time.

Sad, but true.

I was in Boy Scouts as a youth, and they are a great organization.

I was in another aspect of Boy Scouts as a teen, Law Enforcement Exploring (Explorer of the year 2 times in a row ) . Another great organization.


Bottom line is that you'll find this kinda thing happen anywhere that children gather.

Why?

Why do people rob banks? "Because that's where the money is..." same general principal.


Better screening of the volunteers and employees would be wise, but it still will happen.


X

Sadly, no group that has "power" over people, young o old, has been immune for misplacing that inherent trust. For example:

Teachers

Priests

Social workers

Police

Sad, but true - and I'm too dispirited to search for doctors, dentists, solicitors.....

X and AEN,

I agree. This doesn't indict the BSA as a whole, and other organizations have been infiltrated by these scum, as well. What's scary about this one is how much influence he wielded, and how long he was at it. I have a young son, and if something like this happened to him, I don't know how I would contain myself.

Originally posted by Icarus Rising
X and AEN,

I agree. This doesn't indict the BSA as a whole, and other organizations have been infiltrated by these scum, as well. What's scary about this one is how much influence he wielded, and how long he was at it. I have a young son, and if something like this happened to him, I don't know how I would contain myself.

Exactly.

And I'm unsure how I'd respond either.


I know I'd want to kill the person, no doubt.

But hope I'd have restraint.

X

Originally posted by Icarus Rising
X and AEN,

I agree. This doesn't indict the BSA as a whole, and other organizations have been infiltrated by these scum, as well. What's scary about this one is how much influence he wielded, and how long he was at it. I have a young son, and if something like this happened to him, I don't know how I would contain myself.

All understood IR. Well, the vast, vast majority of people aren't child molesters or paedophiles or child abusers of course, so one needs to keep a sense of proportion at all times, IMO. I am the father of daughter - now nearly 21, and she passed through her childhood and teen years without incident: I'm sure your son will be the same.

As a parent, you can only be "mindful" and supportive, IMO and not put your child in possibly harmful situations. Also, tell them about what is permissible "contact" from others of course so that they know if a boundary has been crossed.

The danger is, I think, that - as a society - we can be too protective of our children (for the best of reasons) and not let them develop as much as they might otherwise do. In UK, for example, there is concern about parents giving children lefts to school the so called "School run", which often means children don't get enough exercise (which they could get through walking to school). Often, the "school run" is based on overly concern about perceived danger (from child molesters) whilst, perhaps, the parents ought to be equally (or more) concerned about their offspring being under-exercised (as it were).

AEN,

Another excellent point. It is possible to err too much on the side of caution, and inhibit development of your child. The more they are safely exposed to, and the stronger basis of acceptable behavior they are given, the better off they will be in the long run. My son's mother and I go round and round about this. If you go and make all the important decisions for your child, without offering choices to be considered, and consequences understood, the child is done a disservice.

But back to the ramifications of this case above, and how it is being handled. It concerns me that it is being swept under the rug so quickly, so to speak. There ought to be a full-blown investigation of this joker's activities and his personal ties, and every avenue of possible exploitation that can be connected to him. I don't see that yet, and it makes me suspicious.