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Boy Scouts of America Ordered to Hand Over Confidential Files

More allegations could come from the contents

Written by John Palminteri

Story Created: Feb 20, 2012 at 10:41 AM PDT

Story Updated: Feb 20, 2012 at 7:15 PM PDT

Santa Barbara - A Santa Barbara judge has demanded the Boy Scouts of America turn over confidential files in a sexual abuse lawsuit.

We're told the files at the Boy Scout headquarters in Texas could expose serious issues nationwide that have yet to be reported to police.

A Santa Barbara attorney representing a local victim in a civil case says the records will detail allegations of sexual abuse by scout leaders across the nation.

In 2007 a boy claimed he was molested by troop leader Al Stein in Goleta. Stein pleaded no contest in 2009 and served time in prison.

The family accuses the Boy Scouts of trying to conceal the abuse and there may be more issues inside roughly 4,000 files that have been sought.

"If you look at the content of these files, the scouts have a superior intelligence based on their experience with these files that would have allowed them to identify these warnings signs," said Tim Hale, attorney. "More importantly, had they shared that information with parents and with volunteers, those parents and volunteers would themselves had been able to recognize those signs."

With that, there's a fear that possible offenders have gone without any consequences and may be in similar jobs elsewhere. "You've got thousands of men who are not registered sex offenders who are still walking free in society who are still a risk to children," said Hale.

But this case is not targeting the Boy Scout troops who have complied with the law and taken steps to prevent this behavior. "This is not an attack on the program. This is not an attack on scouting. We seek to make scouting stronger," said Hale.

The Boy Scouts have made a statement published by the Associated Press that says in part, "These files exist solely to keep out individuals whose actions are inconsistent with the standards of scouting."

The trial scheduled in this case has been delayed and the Boy Scouts can appeal the local decision.

KEY News Senior Reporter John Palminteri has our story.
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