The national organization that boys say a local millionaire used to gain access to them for sexual molestation has said they banned the man more than 25 years ago.
Bill McKell, now 60, was a one-time troop leader for the local chapter of Boy Scouts of America, Troop 5, also known as Troop 5005. Two years ago, the Chillicothe Police Department launched an investigation and found that 18 adult men allege they were molested by McKell in the eighties and nineties.
So far, McKell has not been charged with any crimes, mostly because the state’s statute of limitation have expired. However, federal prosecutors have picked up the case and are exploring their options.
Boy Scouts of America released a statement on Friday, saying that McKell was banned from their organization in the nineties after accusations of inappropriate conduct.
“This individual was added to our Volunteer Screening Database over 25 years ago following allegations of inappropriate behavior,” the organization said in a statement. “This bars him from participation in any Scouting activities, regardless of location.”
The Volunteer Screening Database – a tool the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends for all youth-serving organizations – serves as one of BSA’s attempts to prevent abuse, which also include: a leadership policy that requires at least two youth-protection trained adults be present with youth at all times and bans one-on-one situations where adults would have any interactions alone with children.
The scouts said they believe the 18 men who are listed in the police report as being victims when they were children.
“We are outraged that there have been times when individuals took advantage of our programs to abuse innocent children. We believe victims, we support them, and we encourage them to come forward.”
In light of the allegations, the scouts are offering free counseling to all of the alleged victims.
The scouts partnered with 1in6, a national resource for male survivors, so that more men who suffered abuse while in scouting can anonymously access support from trained advocates when and how they need it. Survivors can access those independent services at www.1in6.org/BSA.
McKell was fired as the CEO from Horizon Telecoms on Thursday.
