Gay Boy Scout Leader Sentenced in Child Porn Case

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CAMDEN, New Jersey, October 9, 2015 (ChurchMilitant.com) - An ex-Boy Scout leader has been sentenced to prison for possessing child pornography.

Gerrett Conover, 50, of Gloucester County has received a sentence of 20 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for the online distribution of pornographic material involving minors.

Following a fivemonth investigation, Conover was arrested in September 2012 after he was stopped attempting to enter the United States from Canada. He was found to be in possession of a computer containing more than 50 images of child pornography, most of which graphically depicted sexual acts involving young boys.

Following a hearing in New York, Conover was released on $50,000 bail, although he was to be electronically tagged and his location constantly monitored.

Investigators were able to obtain a search warrant of Conover's house from a federal judge within days of his release; this investigation subsequently unearthed additional laptops containing more child pornography and records of online chats between Conover and an underage boy. In the chats, Conover admitted to having been sexually involved with a boy for seven years, and that he had gained access to the victim while on Boy Scouts trips and following troop meetings.

Further evidence confirmed Conover's involvement with the Boy Scouts lasted from 1990 to 2000.

Conover ultimately pleaded guilty to a count of distribution of child porn; he was also charged with the sexual exploitation of children, according to a 13-count indictment released in 2013.

The case resurrects concerns that had been raised following the decision by the Boy Scouts of America to lift the ban on gay adults as scout leaders; opponents of the amendment contend that the sexual abuse of minors within the organization has the potential to greatly increase as a result.

Oddly enough, the same day that the ban was lifted, a 68-year-old scoutmaster was arrested and charged with sexually abusing an 11-year-old boy; investigators are looking into a possible second victim from several years ago.

A case in New Jersey involving an openly bisexual scout leader who allegedly sexually abused at least four minors gained traction in August after a judge ordered the Boy Scouts of America to turn over thousands of records potentially containing numerous accounts of sexual misconduct within the organization.

Late last month in Spokane, Washington, a Boy Scouts assistant troop leader was arrested on suspicion of possession of child pornography. Forty-seven-year-old David Armstrong has been ordered to have no contact with adolescents and is prohibited from participation in Boy Scouts activities pending a criminal investigation.

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