By Michael V. Cusenza
At least six leaders of Queens Boy Scout units are among the 130 who worked in New York and were named in BSA “Perversion Files” as having allegations of sexually abusing minors, according to the law firm that published the list on Tuesday.
Jeff Anderson & Associates PA indicated that Michael Boresch (Troop 29); Cal Diva (Troop 103, Troop 135); Samuel L. Fried (District 8644); Robert Methvin (Explorer 48); John E. Montgomery (Troop 53); and Hans Pederson (Troop 389) are named on the Empire State list. They led Boy Scout units in Rockaway Beach, Long Island City, Jackson Heights, Flushing, and Bellerose.
Tuesday’s rollout is part of the firm’s revelation that the BSA has documented that 7,819 adult leaders were accused of sexually abusing 12,254 victims across the country from 1944-2016, according to an expert who testified in a child sexual abuse trial in January.
According to Anderson & Associates, since approximately 1920, BSA has maintained these files, also known as “perversion files,” internally to document individuals whose Boy Scout registrations were revoked because of allegations of child sexual abuse.
“These numbers are staggering and tragic,” said attorney Jeff Anderson. “We believe that the actual numbers of Boy Scout perpetrators and victims are much higher, unfortunately. We call on the Boy Scouts to publicly release the names and files of all Boy Scout perpetrators…They have to identify the truth of their own involvement and the magnitude of the decisions they made—and that is identify every offender they know exists in their files and is out in communities. They have to be accountable.”
For more information, and to view the list, visit andersonadvocates.com.
Courtesy of Anderson and Associates
