Boy Scouts of America Releases 'Perversion Files' - Central Coast News KION/KCBA

Boy Scouts of America Releases 'Perversion Files', Cases of Hidden Sexual Abuse

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CENTRAL COAST, Calif- On Thursday, the Boys Scouts of America released almost 15-thousand pages of its so called "perversion files".

The documents contain the names of more than 12-hundred scout leaders and volunteers accused of child sex abuse between 1959 and 2005.

The Oregon Supreme Court ordered the Boy Scouts to release the files after a recent case surfaced the hidden documents.

One of the attorney's in that abuse case, Kelly Clark, was instrumental in the documents' release.

"The Boy Scouts knew they had an institution-wide problem with child abuse and didn't take steps to deal with that." Clark says.

The names of victims and witnesses were blocked out before the documents were posted online.

The Los Angeles Times created a complete database to view the files, which you can view by clicking here.

Lawyers who fought to have the files made public accused the Boy Scouts of covering up sex abuse cases.

Here are the local cases on the Central Coast, listed in chronological order from the past to present:

-        1959         San Luis Obispo        Calif.
-        1959        Santa Maria        Calif.
-      1961        Atascadero        Calif.
-        1961        Santa Barbara        Calif.
-        1962        Carpenteria        Calif.
-        1963            Avila Beach        Calif.
-        1968        Vandenberg AFB        Calif.
       - 1968        Santa Barbara        Calif.
-        1972         Santa Barbara        Calif.
-        1974         San Luis Obispo        Calif.
-      1976         Arroyo Grande        Calif.
-        1984         Salinas        Calif.
-      1987        Salinas        Calif.
-        1989        Santa Barbara        Calif.
-        1991        Monterey        Calif.
-        1991        Santa Maria        Calif.
-        1991        Carmel        Calif.       
-      1991        Salinas        Calif.
-        1992        Gilroy        Calif.
-        1993        Santa Cruz        Calif.

The Boy Scouts says the purpose of the files was to keep child molesters out of the organization.

Boy Scouts of America President Wayne Perry admits the organization did not do enough to prevent abuse.

"We have to remember, that was a different time. I'm not going to defend what happened then. To the extent we fell short of protecting a youth, and we fell short, we are profoundly sorry." says Perry.

Perry says the organization is now a leader in preventing child abuse, and uses computer background checks on all volunteers. 

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