Backlash from childhood sexual abuse?

[STP81]

What is the name of your state? NJ
I was about 11 years old. I joined the local boy scout troop. I was intimidated or seduced (whatever you want to call it when an adult community leader convinces an 11 year old boy to engage in sexual activity with him) into sexual relations with the boy scout leader.

Naturally, this was not a topic of conversation with my parents or anyone else at the time except for a couple other boys who I discovered had also had "experiences" with this "leader".

That was many years ago. A few years ago, I was at a parade near my hometown when I saw this guy participating in the parade... he was a "leader" of another youth organization. (!)

I understand that it would be faulty logic to assume he is still engaging in questionable sexual activities with young children... but the thought definately occurred to me that he MIGHT still be affecting other children in an adverse manner.

QUESTION: If I reported this person to the Division of Youth and Family Services as someone who has sexually manipulated children in the past and MIGHT STILL be engaged in this activity, am I at risk for any kind of legal backlash from this kind of accusation?

 

[seniorjudge]

"...I understand that it would be faulty logic to assume he is still engaging in questionable sexual activities with young children... but the thought definately occurred to me that he MIGHT still be affecting other children in an adverse manner...."

It is not faulty logic. These people never change; they just move on to different victims.


"...QUESTION: If I reported this person to the Division of Youth and Family Services as someone who has sexually manipulated children in the past and MIGHT STILL be engaged in this activity, am I at risk for any kind of legal backlash from this kind of accusation?..."

If there is a way to do this anonymously, do so. Don't you wish someone had reported this slime back when you were a kid?

 

[rmet4nzkx]

What Senior Judge said is true, it is unlikely that he changed, more likley he just changed organizations. By all means make an anonymous report to CPS or other organization. YOu may also want to report it to BSA local council as well

 

[divgradcurl]

QUESTION: If I reported this person to the Division of Youth and Family Services as someone who has sexually manipulated children in the past and MIGHT STILL be engaged in this activity, am I at risk for any kind of legal backlash from this kind of accusation?

If, as the other posters suggested, you can do this anonymously, then you can most likely avoid liability for defamation.

However, if you don't do this anonymously, then you could be sued for defamation, either libel or slander (written or spoken defamation). Of course, people will point out that truth is a defense to defamation, but you will need to prove the truth of the matter if you were to use truth as a defense -- something that might not be that easy to do all of these years later.

Further, because you would be accusing this guy of a serious crime, this defamation would be libel or slanfer per se, which means he wouldn't need to have any damages in order to bring and potentially win a suit against you.

By all means you should expose this guy if you can -- but do it anonymously -- if you don't, you are exposign yourself to potential liability.

 

[sebastianx1]

Dcf

If DCF will record an anonymous (I agree anonymous is safest)

complaint, it may help if anyone else ever files a complaint or reports a crime in the future; the record of a previous report may help the victim.

 

[christinemm]

you must expose this guy. remember way back then how you felt. save these children from this predator. It is you moral duty.

 

[STP81]

State:NJ
Thank you all for your responses.

I called DYFS and was told the only way they can launch an investigation is if I had proof of current abuse... if I was able to give them a name of someone currently being abused.
Otherwise, the report is entered and if anyone has reported this guy to DYFS in the past, they will have one more report (mine) to add to their files.
Fair enough.
I've entered an anonymous report to DYFS.

As far as I know, that is all I can do anonymously.

If no one else has ever reported him to DYFS... then who knows, maybe 30 years ago, when he was done with my little group, he quit. Maybe he's so good at it that no one has had the courage..... It's obvious that no one has told him NOT to be involved with youth organizations.....
I'm scared sh*tless.
If i'm the only person in 30 years that's ever said anything about it...then it certainly doesn't look good for me.
So much for moral obligation.... wish me luck.
Thanks again for your rapid responses.

 

[stephenk]

If you have the fortitude to do this, you should try and contact your friends who were also molested by this guy and see if they would be willing to file complaints against him.

 

[seniorjudge]

...As far as I know, that is all I can do anonymously....

Can you contact (anonymously) the Boy Scout troop where this slime is?