RIDGEFIELD—The Boy Scouts of America is facing what could be the largest lawsuit ever filed against the organization. The suit, which alleges sexual abuse at the hands of a scoutmaster, also names local chapters in Connecticut.
It involves 19 alleged victims--17 boys and two girls--who suffered child sexual abuse in the 1960s and 1970s at the hands of Donald Dennis. Dennis reportedly assaulted the children repeatedly, some as many as hundreds of times.
However, he allegedly assaulted many more children.
Brooke Goff, the lawyer for the plaintiffs, said that he continued the abuse most of his life. "After he left Connecticut, yes, he continued to do this until he was about 75 years old, he's molested over a thousand children."
Dennis was an assistant scoutmaster and then full scoutmaster for a Ridgefield troop. Goff said Dennis often targeted boy scouts on camping trips.
The suit also claims Dennis, who passed away two years ago, sexually abused boys at his home, while forcing the two girls to watch.
"He would go from tent to tent to tent molesting boys, he would take some boys in the backwoods and he would molest them," Goff said the lawsuit states. "He would shower with the boys and fondle the boys in the showers."
The suit claims the Boy Scouts of America knew there were pedophiles among the ranks and did nothing to protect the kids.
Dennis was also an auxiliary state trooper at the time.
It's unclear how much money the plaintiffs are seeking.
The Boy Scouts of America released the following statement about the lawsuit:
Nothing is more important than the safety of our youth members and we are saddened when anyone uses their position to harm children. The Boy Scouts of America extends its deepest sympathies to any person who has been hurt by child sexual abuse.
We were only made aware of these allegations last month and had never before received any reports or accusations against this individual by youth members, parents or adult volunteer leaders. I can also tell you that this individual has not been registered in our programs for many years and is now deceased.
Recognizing youth protection requires sustained vigilance, in the more than 40 years since these events took place the BSA has continued to develop and enhance our efforts to protect youth, regularly consulting with experts from law enforcement, child safety, psychology, and other disciplines to ensure its efforts consistently evolve along with the ever-changing awareness of the dangers and challenges facing youth.
Today, the BSA seeks to prevent child abuse through a comprehensive program of education on the subject, the chartered organization leader selection process, criminal background and other checks, policies and procedures to serve as barriers to abuse and the prompt mandatory reporting of any allegation or suspicion of abuse.