Former Boy Scout safety director freed from federal prison
Date Shared: January 1st, 2024
Date Released: January 3rd, 2013
Source: news.yahoo.com

Excerpt


- Douglas Sovereign Smith Jr. The BSA’s former national director for youth protection was released from prison last week after serving nearly seven years behind bars.

- He was in charge of Scout safety programs in 2005 when police discovered hundreds of images of child pornography and videos on his home computer. Some included prepubescent boys exposing themselves and engaging in sexual acts.

- “It certainly shows that the people supervising him didn’t have their eyes wide open,” said Patrick Boyle, author of "Scout's Honor: Sexual Abuse in America's Most Trusted Institution."

- An Eagle Scout who spent 39 years rising through the ranks as a BSA employee, is now a registered sex offender and must report to a probation officer for life. The 69-year-old grandfather can’t access the Internet or possess a smartphone or camera.

- According to a videotaped court deposition he gave while in prison, Smith said that he submitted his retirement letter as soon as his house was raided in 2005, making him eligible for the Boy Scouts’ pension and medical benefits.

- “Are you kidding me? That’s absurd,” said John Buckland, a Scout who was molested by his troop leader in 1984. “We’ve got to basically beg them to take care of therapy. That’s crazy.”

- The Scouts declined to discuss Smith’s employment or ongoing benefits package. Nor would they comment on his criminal case or allow Yahoo News to see their confidential file on him.

- “Because this is a personnel matter we can't discuss the details,” spokesman Deron Smith said in an email. “But I can say at the time of his arrest, Mr. Smith was permanently removed from the Scouting program.”

- An attorney familiar with employment laws said denying Smith’s pension and benefits would violate the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

- “They are very strict in protecting employee rights to what has been paid in,” said Rogge Dunn, a veteran Dallas attorney. “Having committed certain crimes is one of those things that the statute doesn’t address, but should probably be addressed in the future.”
news.yahoo.com