Thousands of "Perversion Files" Opened, Including Local Boy Scout Incidents

By Chris Earl and Trish Mehaffey, Reporters

In a Tuesday, Oct., 16, 2012 photo, Portland attorney Kelly Clark examines some of the 14,500 pages of previously confidential documents created by the Boy Scouts of America concerning child sexual abuse within the organization, in preparation for releasing the documents Thursday, Oct. 18, in his office in Portland, Ore. The Boy Scouts of America fought to keep those files confidential. (AP Photo/Greg Wahl-Stephens)

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By Liz Blood

Story Created: Oct 19, 2012 at 8:16 PM CDT

Story Updated: Oct 19, 2012 at 11:39 PM CDT

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Five of the Iowans included in the "Perversion Files" of former Boy Scouts of America leaders released Thursday were Corridor residents, four lived in Cedar Rapids and one lived in Coralville when the alleged incidents or convictions occurred.

An Oregon law firm released the documents on Thursday, consisting of thousands of files on more than 1,200 suspected child molesters who were associated with the Boy Scouts of America throughout the 1960s to the 1980s.

Only two of the men were convicted of sex crimes, one was arrested but no record of charges and two were not charged or convicted. Follow up on these local men is difficult because the crimes or alleged crimes occured between 1967 and 1986, which is before Iowa Courts online database and before the Iowa Sex Offender Registry was mandated. None of the men are listed in courts online.

Area men convicted according to scout files:

-Richard Lee Pollock, 38 at the time, was convicted of lascivious acts with a child in 1986. He sexually abused a 10-year-old, a 12-year-old and a 13-year-old boys, according to a Gazette article. Police said the incidents occurred between May 1 and June 30, 1985.

He was a single student at Kirkwood College when he was an assistant scoutmaster from April 1985 to Aug. 1985. The files contain court documentation of conviction and a newspaper clipping of the conviction.

-Charles Huettel, 41 at the time, was convicted of lascivious acts with a child in 1981. He sexually abused a 11-year-old boy.

He was married with four children when he was scoutmaster from May 1980 to February 1981. The files contain court documentation of conviction and a newspaper clipping. The file also stated the troop committee asked for Huettel's resignation after several parents accused him of molesting their sons.

One piece of correspondence from 1963 perhaps captures the attitude of the era. In a lengthy letter from the Hawkeye Area Council to the national office about two leaders who resigned amid incidents of inappropriate behavior, the letter started off with, "seems like it rains when it pours".

Travis Christopher is the executive director of the Hawkeye Area Council, which covers scouting for seven Eastern Iowa counties, including in Cedar Rapids. He noted the detailed precautions that are in place now to try and actively prevent these incidents.

"Youth protection is probably the most paramount of our tasks, especially with the new youth," said Christopher.

He said the Boy Scouts of America has drawn praise for how the organization has handled abuse allegations and awareness in recent years.

"We look at things like educating our leaders, like no one-on-one contact with youth," said Christopher. "But also making sure we have 'two-deep leadership', where anytime you make sure you have at least two leaders. A parent and a registered leader or two registered leaders."

Links to the court cases:

Cedar Rapids Case 1

Cedar Rapids Case 2

Cedar Rapids Case 3

Cedar Rapids Case 4

Waterloo Case 1