The Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Florida reported this Friday that a Boy Scouts executive was arrested and faces several cases of sexual assault involving minors.
The subject identified as John Bruce Larsen, aged 81, faces two counts of sexual assault on a victim under the age of 12, two counts of sexual assault of a child under the age of 18, and four for lewd abuse of a child under 12 years.
The sheriff’s office noted that Larsen’s arrest took place this Friday afternoon, and during the investigation, they discovered that it was a district executive of the Boys Scouts of Central Florida, reported Click Orlando.
“The actions allegedly committed by John Larsen are reprehensible and go against everything the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) stands for. Upon learning of these allegations and his arrest, we took immediate action to ban him from scouting. We add Mr. Larsen to the BSA volunteer selection database, which prevents him from registering and participating in future scouting, including his employment, ”the Boy Scouts of America reported in a statement.
Rigorous measures to avoid cases of abuse
Furthermore, the organization said that security is its main priority , and that they will cooperate fully with law enforcement in this case, as investigators speculate that due to Larsen’s position in Boy Scouts there could be more victims.
“Our barriers to abuse include a thorough screening process for adult leaders and employees, including criminal background checks, mandatory youth protection training for all volunteers and employees, a leadership policy that requires at least two adults trained in youth protection are present with youth at all times during scouting activities and prohibit any individual situation in which adults have an interaction alone with children”, reads part of the statement.
The BSA added that the organization prohibits interaction alone either in person, online or by text message. The use of recording devices or mobile phones near the bathrooms and showers is also not allowed, noting that in case of any abuse or suspicion of it, the authorities must be promptly notified.
The agents indicated that any citizen who has been a victim, who knows someone who has been, or who has additional information about Larsen, should call the Sexual Crimes Unit of the Office from the Orange County Sheriff at 407-257-7000, ext. 70557 or ext. 70557.
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