In case you still clung to the belief that there was any innocence in the world . . .

[albionmoonlight]

Check out the breaking news on CNN.com . . .

Former top Boy Scouts of America official charged with downloading child pornography after investigators find images of children engaging in sex acts on his computer. Details soon.

[sovereignstar]

http://cache.eonline.com/Features/Features/Heatwave2004/Darko/Images/swayze.jpg

Sorry if you don't get this.

[Suicane75]

http://cache.eonline.com/Features/Features/Heatwave2004/Darko/Images/swayze.jpg

Sorry if you don't get this.

Patrick Swayze did touch me once, but it was during his Road House period, so I didn't mind so much.

[JeeberD]

http://hoopy50.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/baldwinsandler.jpg

Yes, it is in very bad taste for me to post this...

[sovereignstar]

Canteen boy!

[Cringer]

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/LAW/03/29/scouts.charges/

DALLAS, Texas (CNN) -- A former top official of the Boy Scouts of America has been charged with downloading child pornography from the Internet after federal investigators found images of children engaging in sex acts on his computer.

Douglas S. Smith Jr. is scheduled to appear before a federal judge Wednesday in Fort Worth, Texas, said Kathy Colvin, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office in Dallas.

"We anticipate Mr. Smith will enter a guilty plea at that time," she said.

Smith retired from the Boy Scouts in February after a 39-year career with the youth organization, based in suburban Dallas. He had been placed on administrative leave when the group learned he was under criminal investigation, and stepped down soon afterward, BSA spokesman Greg Shields said.

Smith, a former Eagle Scout, previously served as the Boy Scouts' director of programming, Shields said.

"As a professional scouter, he was in more administrative positions -- most recently developing programs -- and not in direct contact with the youth," Shields said.

Shields said the Boy Scouts are "shocked and dismayed" by Smith's arrest, but the group has cooperated with investigators in the case.

"We surrendered his work computer to authorities," he said.

Smith surrendered to authorities Friday and was released without bond, according to court records. There was no immediate comment from his attorney.

[Blackadar]

Yes, and it's the uncloseted gays that are the big risk to the Boy Scouts. :rolleyes:

[Subby]

I am constantly amazed that people download any type of porn on their work computers.

[Fritz]

unless it is shown that the guy did something inappropriate with scouts, I don't see why this is anything more than sensational journalism.

[Solecismic]

I wouldn't call it sensational. Just regular police beat reporting.

But seriously, what do you expect from people who take these jobs? Priests are men who have decided they can live without a sexual relationship with a woman. Who do you think is going to sign up for the priesthood? This isn't rocket science here. I guess it's a little more surprising from the Boy Scouts because they can be married, too, but it's got to be considered high risk.

[Fritz]

Jim,

I am saying it is sensational because we would not ordinarily hear about something like this from a second tier executive from, say, Litton Industries. To me, it is only a national story if the fellow did something with the kids.

[Solecismic]

I think it's a valid story. A second-tier executive from Litton wouldn't have a lot of contact with children in his day-to-day work. Smith put himself in a job where he would have a lot of contact with children.

The fact that he has illegal material on his computer related to children is pretty big news. Despite the potential for sensational-like exploitation of the story, parents need to know that just because a man wears a funny hat (it's always the ones in funny hats we need to watch out for - the next big scandal is going to involve the Phillie Phanatic), that doesn't mean you don't have to be extra careful when you entrust your children to his care.

Meanwhile, the biggest non-news trial of the century (Michael Jackson) continues as the lead story, day after day. Any parent who didn't know he was dangerous should have their children remanded to foster care.

[Fritz]

Then this story fails to connect the person with children, other than by the organization he works for (and the alleged crime). The most it has to say is '"As a professional scouter, he was in more administrative positions -- most recently developing programs -- and not in direct contact with the youth," Shields said.'



I think it's a valid story. A second-tier executive from Litton wouldn't have a lot of contact with children in his day-to-day work. Smith put himself in a job where he would have a lot of contact with children.

The fact that he has illegal material on his computer related to children is pretty big news. Despite the potential for sensational-like exploitation of the story, parents need to know that just because a man wears a funny hat (it's always the ones in funny hats we need to watch out for - the next big scandal is going to involve the Phillie Phanatic), that doesn't mean you don't have to be extra careful when you entrust your children to his care.

Meanwhile, the biggest non-news trial of the century (Michael Jackson) continues as the lead story, day after day. Any parent who didn't know he was dangerous should have their children remanded to foster care.

[Desnudo]

http://hoopy50.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/baldwinsandler.jpg

Yes, it is in very bad taste for me to post this...

http://snltranscripts.jt.org/93/93mcanteen.phtml

[cartman]

I'm an Eagle Scout, and was a Catholic altar boy. I guess I'd better not ever go through regression hypnotherapy... :D

[Lathum]

As a professional scouter
does anyone else find this quote kind of funny in a sick way?

[WSUCougar]

Now for the scary real picture:

http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2005/LAW/03/29/scouts.charges/top.scout.smith.1.jpg

[Cringer]

Now for the scary real picture:

http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2005/LAW/03/29/scouts.charges/top.scout.smith.1.jpg

GUILTY!!!

[jeff061]

It's life imitating South Park!!

[cartman]

So it's a done deal that William H. Macy will play him in the movie version.

[jeff061]

Or maybe Bob Newhart?

[Cringer]

I was thinking Dan Akroyd, with makeup on like in Nothing But Trouble. Maybe it's just the nose....

[cartman]

Yep, they guy pled guilty. What bugs me a bit about the reporting on this case is that news outlets keep calling him a "one time Eagle Scout". One you earn the rank, you have it for life, it's not like it expires or anything. That being said, this guy is not the one you'd want to put on a pedestal to showcase the Eagle Scout rank... :D


Ex-Boy Scout official pleads guilty on child porn charges

Wednesday, March 30, 2005 Posted: 12:17 PM EST (1717 GMT)

FORT WORTH, Texas (CNN) -- A former top official of the Boy Scouts of America pleaded guilty Wednesday to receiving and distributing child pornography.

Douglas S. Smith Jr. entered the plea before a federal judge in Fort Worth. A sentencing date was set for July 12. Smith will be free on bond until then.

Smith retired from the Boy Scouts in February after a 39-year career with the youth organization, based in suburban Dallas.

He was placed on administrative leave when the group learned he was under criminal investigation, and he stepped down soon afterward, said Greg Shields, a spokesman for the Boy Scouts of America.

Most recently, Smith was the group's director of programming, Shields said.

"As a professional scouter, he was in more administrative positions -- most recently developing programs -- and not in direct contact with the youth," he said.

Shields said the Boy Scouts are "shocked and dismayed" by Smith's arrest but added that the group has cooperated with investigators.

"We surrendered his work computer to authorities," he said.

Smith's attorney Jack Strickland said authorities took computers from Smith's home and office. He said that the pictures in question had nothing to do with the Boy Scouts and that none of them were found on Smith's work computer.

Smith faced a single count of receiving and distributing child pornography -- a charge brought as part of a federal investigation into Internet child porn conducted with German authorities.

The probe, known as Operation Predator in the United States, began in 1997. It has resulted in more than 5,300 arrests worldwide since 2003, said Manny Van Pelt, a spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which oversees the investigation.

Van Pelt declined to discuss the details of Smith's case. Those charged in previous cases have included doctors, police officers, teachers, camp counselors and coaches, he said.

Smith, a onetime Eagle Scout, surrendered to authorities Friday and was allowed to be released without bond, according to court records.

CNN's Stacia Deshishku and Ed Lavandera contributed to this report.