Boy Scouts Face Sex Assault Lawsuit

By Erin Logan
WTNH
February 23, 2012

http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/connecticut/boy-scouts-face-sex-assault-lawsuit

[with video]

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) - Two Connecticut men are filing a lawsuit against the Boy Scouts of America for sexual assaults they say happened when they were kids.

The men who are filing the lawsuit partnered with Attorney Kelly Clark from Portland, Oregon who has 60 cases in 14-states against the Boy Scouts.

"Why me? Why did you choose me?"

It's a question the now 41 year-old victim has wanted to ask his alleged abuser David "Dirk" Davenport for over two decades as he's battled relationship problems, addictions, and shame. However he has been in panic mode since his eight year-old daughter was born.

"I was very concerned about her growing up and leaving her at school's and experiencing what I did when I was younger and the only way to help her is to help myself," he said.

In court documents, the victim is referred to as John Roe One. He says Davenport, his Boy Scout leader, was a man he looked up to as a teenager.

"I trusted him," he said. "He would take me out for pizza, buy me things."

But he and an acquaintance, John Roe Two, both say Davenport sexually abused them at his home, in his car, and at a church in Madison.

"A dozen to 15 incidents of fondling," said Clark. "The perpetrator fondled the boys genitals often with the use of pornography involved. Boys ages 13, 14, 15. The boys genitals."

Clark has partnered up with Cheshire lawyer Frank Bartlett to file the suit against the Boy Scouts of America.

Clark says there were at least nine other victims in the 1980's. In fact, Davenport served four years of a ten year sentence.

Connecticut isn't the only state he was a troop leader.

"They should've known this guy had previously been involved in scouting in Nebraska, Minnesota and accused of child molestation there," Clark said. "How could he sign up all over again?"

Boy Scouts of America issued a statement saying in part, "Today, anyone suspected of abuse is immediately removed from Scouting, reported to law enforcement and Scout executives and added to our Ineligible Volunteer Files." (Read the full statement below)

The alleged victim is glad to know that today there is no one-on-one contact between the kids and leaders, still, he views himself as a father without too much anxiety and fear.

"I know this type of abuse still happens to this day and I want parents to be aware," he said.

Boy Scouts have until March 20 to respond to these allegations.

The Boy Scouts of America have a youth protection program in place. Click here to learn more.

Boy Scouts of America issued the following statement:

"The abuse of anyone, and especially children, is abhorrent and intolerable, and the Boy Scouts of America continues to evolve our multi-layered youth protection efforts. In the 25 years since the events described, Scouting has mandated training and education for everyone in our organization and designed policies that prevent one-on-one contact between youth and adults. Today, anyone suspected of abuse is immediately removed from Scouting, reported to law enforcement and Scout executives and added to our Ineligible Volunteer Files.

The Ineligible Volunteer Files exist solely to keep out individuals whose actions are inconsistent with the standards of Scouting, and Scouts are safer because of them. These files are kept in accordance with the government’s best practices for all youth serving organizations.

...upon becoming aware of this abuse, this man was immediately removed from Scouting, and was prosecuted and convicted by the authorities."