THOMPSON–A former Boy Scout leader who was arrested for sexually assaulting members of his troop gave the boys alcohol and pornography before assaulting them, according to an arrest warrant.
According to the warrant for David Kress, 52, at least five boys were assaulted between the ages of 10 and 17 over a period of 20 years. Kress was the leader for Boy Scout Troop 66 in Thompson during that time.
The stories that each victim provided were all similar. They allege that Kress gave them Yukon Jack and beer, as well as pornography, before sexually assaulting them and asking them to perform sexual acts on each other. The assaults happened on Boy Scout camping trips, at Kress’ home and at the homes of Kress’ clients from his counter-top installation business.
One victim says that Kress told him to take the assaults to his grave and not tell anyone. He threatened another victim with a handgun, telling him that if he told his parents he would use the gun on them.
Kress did not deny the allegations when he was interviewed by officers from State Police Troop D. Kress said that he was confronted by one of the victims’ fathers about the assaults. Kress would not provide the name of the person who confronted him until police told him the names of who was accusing him.
While police tried to convince Kress to tell them who confronted him, which police said would help him in the long run, Kress said he could help himself by putting a bullet in his head.
The officer told Kress there were more victims than he could count on one hand, but Kress said all the victims could be counted on one hand. He added that he hadn’t interacted with children in more than 10 years. He also said the last person he inappropriately touched was the first victim to come forward with the accusations.
After the interview Kress was taken to Day-Kimball Hospital for an emergency committal due to the threats he made on his own life.
The Eastern District Major Crimes Unit–Troop D began investigating the sexual assault reports on March 3, and after 10 months gathered enough evidence to apply for an arrest warrant.
Kress is charged with three counts of employing minors in obscene performances on two dates in 1989 and a third date in 1997. He turned himself in on Oct. 23 to State Police Troop D in Danielson, and he was released on $100,000 cash/surety bond. He is due to be arraigned on Nov. 26.
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