Former Boy Scout Leader Charged with Decades of Child Sex Abuse

A former Utah Boy Scout leader is facing numerous child sex abuse charges stemming from alleged incidents that occurred over a period of two decades. Charles Sheldon Bates, a 61-year-old resident of Kearns, just outside of Salt Lake City, was arrested and booked late Thursday night. The arrest was made in connection to an investigation involving 42 charges of sex abuse.

The charges against Bates include a variety of offenses. These include 20 counts of sodomy on a child, 10 counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, seven counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, four counts of sodomy/forcible sodomy, and one count of forcible sexual abuse, which is the only second-degree felony.

The Unified Police Department, responsible for the arrest, confirmed that Bates was a Boy Scout leader and that the abuse began while at least one victim was involved in the Boy Scouts. Authorities are encouraging any potential additional victims to come forward. The police affidavit indicates that several victims have already reported abuse by Bates.

Bates' residence in Kearns and a bathroom at the Kearns Oquirrh Park Fitness Centre swimming pool.

One of the photos was of an 11-year-old boy and was taken in 2006. Another boy alleges he was abused while participating in the Boy Scouts of America, now known as Scouting America, between 2007 and 2013. This boy reportedly identified himself in photos found on Bates' CDs.

A third boy claims to have met Bates when he was 13 years old and a member of the Scouts. The affidavit states that the boy would visit Bates' home under the pretense of working on merit badges. The incidents of abuse allegedly occurred in Bates' bedroom and the community pool family bathroom. A fourth boy also reported being abused approximately five or six years ago, when he was between 13 and 14 years old.

Police have emphasized the severity of the crimes, which have persisted for many years. They requested that Bates be held in the Salt Lake County Jail without the possibility of bail. Jail records show that Bates had not been granted a bond as of Monday. The Unified Police Department is urging anyone who believes they may have been victimized by Bates to contact them.