Suit Alleges Molestation Abuse Cover-up by the Boy Scouts

The Boy Scouts have been rocked with allegations of molestation abuse dating back from the 1970s till the 1980s. A lawsuit filed by Portland Oregon attorney Kelly Clark details how the molestation abuse of one scout allegedly occurred even after the abuse had been reported to the local Scout coordinator at the time. This week, the Boy Scouts had to explain the use of secret files kept on volunteers that the Boy Scouts have kept since 1919 to catalogue those deemed "unfit" to volunteer.

The files reportedly break down into six categories: criminal, financial, leadership, religious, moral and perversion. The Washington Post reports that some of the "perversion files" are expected to be released during the trial in order to illustrate how the Boy Scouts have covered up sexual abuse of children for decades. According to the Washington Post, the only other time that these files have been released was a trial during the 1980s in Virginia.

The Portland lawsuit involves the "perversion file" of former Portland Boy Scout volunteer Timur Dykes, who reportedly confessed to a local Scout coordinator that he had molested 17 scouts. The Scouts claim Dykes was quickly not allowed to participate in the organzation. Through his attorney, the plaintiff claims that Sykes was allowed to continue joining in Boy Scout activities.  

The use of these secret files was defended by the Boy Scouts. The Boy Scouts attorney, Charles Smith said that the files were used to help the organization prevent repeat sex offenders from joining the organization and abusing children. According to Oregon Live, while Mr. Nate Marshall from the Boy Scouts told jurors in this trial that the files were specifically used from the dates of 1965 until 1985, he admitted that the Boy Scouts still collects information about volunteers.

While the use of the files is controversial, the Boy Scouts defends its use of them in order to protect children involved in the organization. Ms. Clark plans to argue that in spite of the presence of these secret files, not much has been done to protect the children who were repeatedly abused. For more information, please visit our Related Resources links.

Related Resources:

• Molestation Suits vs the Mormon Church, Boy Scouts (FindLaw's Injured)
• Oregon Child Abuse Laws (FindLaw)
• The Maturing of a Movement: Statute of Limitations Reform for Sex Abuse Victims  (FindLaw)