Former Camp Counselor Arrested for Child Molestation

By Amanda Christman
Standard Speaker
June 24, 2016

http://standardspeaker.com/news/former-camp-counselor-arrested-for-child-molestation-1.2059579

A Hazle Township man who volunteered in greater Hazleton, admitted to molesting a minor at a church camp nearly six years ago, police say.

Zachary M. Lee, 24, was arrested Monday and charged with felonies for unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors, unlawful restraint and one misdemeanor count of indecent assault with a person less than 16 years old.

He was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Daniel O’Donnell, Sugarloaf Township, who released him on $25,000 unsecured bail.

O’Donnell ordered him to not have any contact with the victim, the victim’s family or any minors.

Butler Township police said Lee was 18 when he was working as a camp counselor for the Hazleton Enlarged Ministry United Methodist Church camp in Drums during the summer of 2010.

In court papers, police allege he met the 11-year-old in a bathroom at 85 S. Old Turnpike Road, the address for Drums Elementary/Middle School and molested the boy after telling him to enter a bathroom stall and locking the door behind them.

Court papers state another camp worker heard the boy cry for help so she entered the bathroom and found both in the stall together. The boy reported the incident to that woman and broke down crying in front of her, according to arrest papers.

The day of the incident, a teacher from the camp contacted the victim’s grandmother to pick the child up and the victim later informed his grandmother about the incident, police wrote.

Lee, police said, provided officers with explicit details of the sexual acts he performed on the juvenile when interviewed.

Butler Township police said no one notified police about the incident until December 2015 after a complaint was made at ChildLine, a service that accepts calls from public and professional sources about child abuse 24 hours a day, seven days per week.

Lee awaits a preliminary hearing scheduled for June 27 at 9 a.m. before O’Donnell.

In 2013 Lee organized a crime watch group that covered sections of Hazle Township but it’s unclear if that group is still active as some of those members branched off to form their own crime watch, referred to as the NW Crime Watch, which Lee isn’t involved with.

He also volunteered locally for the American Red Cross but was suspended after The American Red Cross of Eastern Pennsylvania found out about the charges Wednesday, according to an emailed statement.

Lee was a volunteer with the organization since Sept. 1, 2011 and at the time, passed required background checks, it states. Also, in accordance with commonwealth law, he recently passed a child abuse history clearance.

The statement said law enforcement hasn’t contacted the Red Cross about Lee.

Attempts to reach Pastor Joanne Young, who supervises the camp for comment on the arrest, were unsuccessful.

Butler Township Police Chief Brian Sabatini said the incident is still under investigation.

He said a relatively newer law requires professionals to report child abuse.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, professionals are required to report child abuse when the child is under their care or guidance.

Contact: achristman@standardspeaker.com