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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
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Abused Brothers Sue the Boy Scouts

ST. LOUIS (CN) - A scoutmaster, now serving life in prison, sodomized two young Boy Scouts more than 60 times, the brothers claim in court.

John Doe, now 18, and Joseph Doe, 15, sued the Boys Scouts of America, the Boy Scouts Greater St. Louis Area Council, and the Black River Electric Cooperative, in City Court.

Black River was the sponsor of Troop 27, based in Fredericktown, Mo., where the brothers say they were abused by their scoutmaster, Kenneth Tomlinson.

Tomlinson is not named as a defendant but he is named in the lawsuit. He is serving three life terms in prison plus 22 years, according to the complaint.

Tomlinson pleaded guilty in late 2010 to 16 counts of sodomy in the first degree and four counts of sodomy in the second degree.

The brothers say Tomlinson abused them after gaining the trust of their family.

"Those improper sexual relationships included at least 60 instances of statutory sodomy, all of which occurred during the course and scope of authorized scouting activities," the complaint states. "The improper sexual relationships included, but were not limited to, unwanted fondling, touching, sodomy and rape, to which plaintiffs could not consent by reason of their minority."

The brothers claim the Boy Scouts knew the organization had a problem with pedophile scoutmasters, and adopted a "Two-Deep" leadership guideline that prohibited one-on-one contact. But the brothers say Tomlinson used his authority to usurp the guidelines.

"The defendants knew or should have known of Tomlinson's interactions with all of the Scouts in Troop 27, including plaintiffs," the brothers say in the complaint.

They seek punitive damages for battery, negligence, and violation of the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act.

They are represented by Stephen F. Meyerkord, with Meyerkord & Meyerkord.

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