Did the BSA ignore molestation warnings?

[Merlyn_LeRoy]

 

I've highlighted parts:

 

http://www.kpvi.com/index.cfm?page=nbcstories.cfm&ID=2216

 

CASE FILE UNSEALED

Mar 10, 2005

 

What did they know and when? The records in a three-year-old civil case between a molestation victim and the Boy Scouts of America are unsealed for the first time. Leaders with the scouting organization say they wanted the case kept sealed because it contained the names of other young victims of former Scout Leader Brad Stowell. But the file also shows evidence that more people knew Stowell was a pedophile - and ignored it. Senior reporter Suzanne Hobbs looked at the files today.

 

There is damning evidence that not only did the Scout leaders know Brad Stowell had molested a child when he was 16, but others also witnessed Stowell engaged in inappropriate conduct with young Scouts at Camp Little Lemhi.

 

The now unsealed civil case brought on by the parents of a then 11-year-old boy known only as "John Doe" consists of hundreds of pages in nine file folders filled with motions, testimony, witness lists and graphic details of what happened at camp. On order by the judge, the names of Stowell's victims are blacked out.

 

This is what the Boy Scouts of America did not want the public to know. Brad Stowell was arrested at Camp Little Lemhi in the summer of 1997 and charged with sexual abuse of a child. These court records show that Stowell admitted that from 1988 to 1997, he repeatedly molested boys at camp and away from camp. The file shows that the Boy Scouts of America were 'repeatedly placed on notice' as far back as 1991 of Stowell's pedophiliac propensity.

 

A letter from Richard Scarborough dated May of 1991 to the National Scouting Headquarters sends a warning that Stowell molested a 6-year-old Blackfoot child when Stowell was 16. There is case evidence of a note taken in 1995 by Hart Bullock, the area director for the Scouts Western Region. He was warned by a phone call that Stowell had fondled and sodomized a child and was now working with young boys at camp. The file shows Stowell could have been stopped much sooner. At least seven people within the organization were given reports about Stowell years before his arrest.

 

Despite an investigation by the Scouts, Stowell continued to work at camp several more years until his arrest. Was there intentional concealment by the Scouts? The records state that three Scout staffers observed Stowell engaged in some level of inappropriate conduct but failed to report it and the Scouts admit they knew that Stowell had been improperly touching some of the younger camp staff in 1997. The record also alleges that at the time, the Scouts did not notify the parents of other victims to avoid further liability - meaning there could be other victims out there who have not come forward.

 

Kim Hansen, the Scout executive for the Grand Teton Council, maintains that the council took swift action to remove Brad Stowell and did not turn a 'blind eye'. As for Stowell, he lives in Idaho Falls and is still on supervised probation for pleading guilty to the sexual abuse.

 

[eisely]

This tale raises important and interesting questions. If the article is accurate, there certainly was a great deal of smoke available to detect this fire. One wonders what people were thinking of. This makes Michael Jackson look good.

[johndaigler]

My biggest problem is I can't honestly junp up and shout, "No, I'll never believe it!".

 

Organizations make bad choices all the time. This is the type from which we don't recover.

 

Sad, very sad.

 

jd

[anarchist]

AH, Merlyn_LeRoy, God Bless you me boy...never a good day without a dark cloud or two!

 

BSA isn't perfect...like you, but then you knew that all along.

[Merlyn_LeRoy]

The BSA isn't perfect, but I didn't expect that half a dozen BSA officials could know about a molester and cover it up instead of doing the right thing. The BSA is now being sued by families whose sons were molested because the BSA failed to act when they should have.

[CA_Scouter]

Anarchist, I too, detect the same tone that you do.

 

This is a truly unfortunate case, which looks to me, that was obviously mishandled by the local council. To villify the entire BSA, and its thousands, if not tens of thousands of volunteers, for the terrible decisions of the few individuals who had knowledge of this person's actions, is not fair.

 

The criticism should be pointed to those who were directly involved, not the BSA as a whole.

 

 

 

 

[Merlyn_LeRoy]

Which is why I said "half a dozen BSA officials".

[BadenP]

What a sad tale. It looks like it will not just be Catholic priests but BSA professionals and scouters who will be dragged through the mud. However if there has been a coverup then its time to clean house otherwise the BSA will lose all credibility much as the Catholic Church has of late. If this is an isolated case then let it be handled locally, if there is any indication that this went up the ladder then the BSA must fully disclose what happened and take appropriate action with all those involved.

[anarchist]

BadenP, of course it can't be tolerated...thats why BSA has been working on 'two deep', 'child protection', videos, literature and training! It's why troops and districts and councils try to have 'checks' on progress and programs...BSA will never be perfect unlike M-Leroy we are human with all the bagage that goes with it.

 

but that is not Merlyn boys intent...his goal is to hurt, harm, distroy... all because he can't get us to do 'it' his misguided way.

 

love ya boy, just keep stir'n things up it keeps us on our toes! And it gives folks like you, with no good purpose, something to do.

[Fuzzy Bear]

As for the problem presented, the BSA has never been on a "witch hunt" and should not be quick to pull the plug because the legal system works both directions. People should never be considered to be guilty until proven innocent. The Police cannot be called into action because someone thinks something might happen or will happen. There needs to be some kind of proof or evidence first.

 

I have yet to see a written record that stated all of the facts until everything had been presented and then the facts are generally targeted for editorial reasons. In other words, most articles one reads have some facts and leave others out. Try this on any one day using two different newspapers with two different reporters for one event. The next thing is to follow a story over a period of time. The facts tend to grow with time or with the number of reporters. It appears that someone is always covering up the truth but in reality someone is reporting from their perspective. Calling on one story from the Internet is a good example. Who is writing the story and what is their perspective, agenda?

 

We can be looking at the truth and analyzing what we think is correct information but in reality it is only one perspective given from a distance. When we try things in the press, it is best to wait and gather facts over a period of time. Most likely we will change our minds.

 

While all of this is going on, sometimes innocent children may be hurt and that makes it even worse.

 

 

FB

[evmori]

Wonder what religion this guy is? Maybe he's an atheist!

[Merlyn_LeRoy]

Oh, you mean the molester, Ed? He's a Mormon and had a fiancee at the time he was molesting Scouts. Now he's married and out of jail (he only got 150 days). It isn't hard to google for "Brad Stowell" and Scouts. You'd find out even the local LDS bishop knew about Stowell's past abuse, and did nothing about his working with kids at a Scout camp.

 

So your dishonest attempt to try to blame atheists just blew up in your face. Blame the Mormon church and the BSA, both of which were informed many times about this creep - and did nothing for years.

[evmori]

Nothing dishonest about my suggestion. Thanks for clearing things up.

[anarchist]

Tut, Tut, merlyn...your thin skin is showing laddie. I saw no where in Eds post a reference to you...though not being front and center probably gets your shorts in a bind. Ed's post followed Fuzzy Bear's which didn't even refer to you (again, must get your goat to be ignored)...so logically speaking Ed had to be refereing to the molester...right? so the only thing I can see backfiring is your subconscious (?) desire to be in the center of the spot light. Your mother loves ya boy!

[Eagledad]

Hi All

 

I think this is a case where the bad news dominates over good news. Our unit reported physical abuse and it was handled immediately. The adult in question also worked on staff at a summer camp and that council was contacted immediately as well. I wonder how many positive situations like ours are never reported as good news for the BSA.

 

Barry