A former Boy Scout leader from Kearns, Utah, has been charged with numerous felony counts stemming from alleged sexual abuses spanning more than a decade. Charles Sheldon Bates, 61, was taken into custody late Thursday on 42 charges, including first-degree felonies such as 20 counts of sodomy on a child, as reported by ABC4. The charges include 10 counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor and seven counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, among others.
Additional disturbing details emerged as KSL NewsRadio uncovered that investigators found 134 photos of child sex abuse material on Bates's CDs. At least two boys depicted were identified as victims in Bates's arrest warrant. Bates, having previously been involved with the Boy Scouts of America, allegedly began abusing one of the boys during his time in the Scouts, from 2007 to 2013.
Another victim recalled incidents of abuse occurring at Bates's residence and a community pool family bathroom, reportedly while Bates was working on helping the victim earn merit badges for the Boy Scouts, according to KSL NewsRadio. The victim said, "(He) would go to Charles' house under the guise of working on and earning merit badges for the Boy Scouts."
KUTV reported that two other victims alleged the abuse started when they were 11 and 13 years old during Boy Scouts activities. Bates is also accused of abusing a fourth victim between 2019 and 2020. As the investigation unfolds, police, suspecting more victims may exist, are urging others to come forward with any pertinent information.
