Deseret News | Reader comments: Boy Scout leader pleads guilty to sex abuse

Reader comments
Boy Scout leader pleads guilty to sex abuse

Ore Scouter | 6:51 p.m. June 17, 2009

Word to the wise parents and leaders out there. Make sure there is always TWO DEEP LEADERSHIP. It protects in both directions, child is safe from wolf that entered in and the leader is safer from being falsely accused.

Parents, make sure your child is in a good safe situation.

Leaders, don't take a chance. Avoid even the appearance of inpropriety.

Chris | 7:09 p.m. June 17, 2009

I wish sexual perpetrators were required to pay for all of their victim's counseling--which in these cases can be VERY expensive. These types of crimes can cause horrific suffering for the survivor.

blah Scouting Program | 7:27 p.m. June 17, 2009

It's time to evacuate from the scouting program.....

I would never allow my boys to go without their father....

No one is infalible I don't care what religion they are!!! (and YES I am an active member of the lds church.. have been for 40+ years..)

Satan is real he doesn't take into account your religion.. He's happy to take anyone down with a weakness.

Scouting has lost it purpose in the church! Parents themselves should be the ones teaching their children life skills!

Comments continue below

Anonymous | 7:32 p.m. June 17, 2009

To Chris,
When my son was sexually abused, we did not pay one dime. He had counseling for 1 year. We were told that the person who did it was responsible for it. I don't know if it was community service or out right cash, but we paid nothing.

Mark | 7:49 p.m. June 17, 2009

How disgusting!

Scouting is Great! | 8:21 p.m. June 17, 2009

This is not the fault of the Scouting program. The BSA requires Two Deep leadership. Unfortunately, many LDS Scout leaders do not go through proper training. The fault is with the individual, not the program. The church emphasizes the need for all leaders to be trained and aware. If two deep leadership occurs, this type of thing would be mitigated a great deal. I admire both parties here because they seek healing on both sides. No need for deep bitterness if compassion exists, particularly by the victim. The fact remains, however, that ALL scout leaders, regardless of church or civic affiliation, need to be properly trained and kept current. Sponsoring institutions need to monitor and enforce training. If you keep the rules and guidelines, it prevents a lot from happening...not all....but a lot.

Sue | 8:40 p.m. June 17, 2009

If my ward was doing scouting activities w/o 2 deep leadership my children we NOT be participating. Period. & I am an extremely active Mormon. Leaders are putting the Church & the possible victims at risk. Plus consider that there are always folks like me that will NEVER sweep things under the rug that might go wrong. Children can easily be damaged for the rest of their lives if they become a victim of such abuse..... Every one needs to wake up & quit living in dreamland.

I agree | 8:48 p.m. June 17, 2009

with Scouting is Great! I love the program. But my husband or I is in the building at every meeting and on every outing. My son has had some wonderful experiences in cub scouts that we could have never given him in the same way. And yes, training must be stressed and policies must be followed. We wouldn't have these problems if they were.

AC | 5:51 a.m. June 18, 2009

Couseling is paid by the government, not the perpetrator, and only for the first year...in my child's case, they went for 3 years of counseling, then touch up counseling at puberty, will go again during dating age, will go again before marriage, will go again when they have children that turn 4, the age they were abused....I agree, that perp should pay a very hefty sum rather than the victims...they get to go free after a short time in jail, if they get that, go live their lives, and the victims pay for a lifetime, and so do their families...and a family like this should NEVER plea down...that is where they end up not on the registry and not doing much time...I hate when a parent does that, it just puts more kids in danger...

Corrections Pt. 1 | 1:42 p.m. June 18, 2009

The victim was 12 when this happened--over and over for TWO years. There WAS Two-deep leadership. Perp. found many ways to make it work for him.
IF the victim went to trial, being 4-years older, the defense attorney would rake the boy over the coals-- doing all he can to get the Perp. off. Then place doubt and blame on the boy. The jury would see a teenager, not a sweet, innocent and confused LITTLE boy. This is not in the boys best interest.
Reliving and recounting each incident before jury and public is not appropriate or fair to his future. The jury would not understand the emotional damage, or fragile mind that was attacked.
It is NOW up to the JUDGE to pronounce an appropriate sentence. Not the boy or the family. The charges carry enough weight to warrant serious jail time and years of counseling. If the judge fails to recognize the confession, the regularity of the assaults, and the damage done to so many, then the judge is failing the public and his call as a JUDGE.

Corrections Pt. 2 | 1:43 p.m. June 18, 2009

Q: Should the family demand financial justice? Who would pay the price? A: The accused family. This would cause hardship to his wife and childrenwhom the victim and family care much about.
A plea is to PROTECT the boy, NOT provide leniency for the accused. Offering lesser charges, and belief that sexual evaluations are accurate, and not seeking additional jail time is the fault of the prosecution.
BSA is a great program, but does NOTHING once this abuse comes to light. BSA should, at the very least, begin to warn leaders and future leaders, that the BSA will use their resources to prosecute and assist the families of scouting abuse. As it is, they take NO responsibility. BSA disappears. This should change, and only public pressure and outcry will cause it to change. Leaders NEED to know they will be accountable to the law and organization they serve!
Two leaders with TWO fathers: NEVER a boy alone with a leader. Boys in pairs at scout camp: NEVER sent to the woods alone to ponder and pray. NEVER let a leader lag behind with a boy on hikes.

Skippy | 6:23 p.m. June 18, 2009

What an idiot!

Anonymous | 4:02 p.m. July 28, 2009

I tell my children over and over, DO NOT trust anyone, I don't care what position they hold, which is pretty sad, you want your child to trust, and be trusted.

Add your comment

Comments are monitored. Any comments found to be abusive, offensive, off-topic, misrepresentative, more than 200 words or containing URLs will not be posted.

Words Remaining

E-mail address: For internal use only. We may want to contact you to publish your comment (not your e-mail address) in the newspaper or for a separate story idea.