Virginia Boy Scout leader charged with sodomizing a child www.privateofficer.com

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 Albemarle County Nov 29 2012 Authorities arrested a former Keswick scoutmaster Wednesday,charging him with sodomizing a child, and said more charges could follow.David Brian Watkins, 49, assaulted a Scout in his troop in2005, and authorities suspect other assaults on the child between 2002 and2008, said Albemarle County police Lt. ToddHopwood. Watkins is being held in the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jailon a charge of forcible sodomy of a juvenile.The alleged victim is now an adult, but was younger than 13at the time of the 2005 assault, police said. He contacted police Nov. 21 aboutthe allegations, Hopwood said.Authorities are considering additional charges, and saidthere could be other victims, Hopwood said. Police have set up a dedicated linefor victims to call, 972-4045.Police declined to elaborate on the charge. The arrestwarrant was unavailable.Investigators want to be sure the accounts of others whomight come forward aren’t influenced by press coverage, Hopwood said. One ofthe obstacles to investigating cases that are several years old is thatmemories fade, he said.Hopwood said police have been in contact with representativesof the Boy Scouts of America, who have been cooperative.“The abuse of anyone, especially a child, is intolerable andour thoughts and prayers go out to anyone who may be a victim of this type ofbehavior,” read a prepared statement from Michael Hesbach, an official with theBoy Scouts of America's Stonewall Jackson Area Council, which covers CentralVirginia and the Shenandoah Valley. “Thebehavior included in these allegations runs counter to everything for which theBoy Scouts of America stands.“This individual has been removed from Scouting and has notbeen involved in the program for several months. He has been permanently bannedfrom participating in the Scouting program.”Watkins ceased his role as a scoutmaster in 2008, policesaid. He continued serving in other positions after that, Hesbach said.Adults at a Scout troop meeting Wednesday evening in Albemarle County declined to speak to a reporterbut said they were writing a statement. It had not been received as of presstime.A troop website apparently set up by Watkins shows hundredsof photos of Scouts taken at more than 50 camping trips and other events from2003 to 2008.One photo shows a boy talking to another Scout, who’sadjusting his pants.The caption reads: “Yeah Dude you’re A-- looks fat in thosenew switchbacks.”Watkins faces a bond hearing today in Albemarle Juvenile andDomestic Relations Court. Albemarle County Commonwealth’sAttorney Denise Lunsford said her office will ask that Watkins be held withoutbond.After waves of cases involving Scout leaders abusingchildren, the Boy Scouts of America years ago began performing computerizedcriminal background checks on all prospective Scout leaders. The Scouts won’tdiscuss the results of checks on specific individuals, but the group doesn’tallow anyone with a history of abuse to participate in Scouting.The Oregon Supreme Court earlier this year ordered the BoyScouts to release files on alleged sex abuse by Scout leaders from 1965 to1985. The Boy Scouts used the files to attempt to exclude molesters from thegroup.
source-dailyprogress.com