On February 14, 2020, a former Tarrant County Boy Scoutmaster was arrested due to allegations of indecency with a child.
60-year-old Brett Hall, a Tarrant County resident, served as a Boy Scoutmaster from the years 2006-2013 for the Tarrant County Troops 205 and 214, according to the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office. While officials claim that the victim was not a boy scout, they also claim that the nature of the current case facts and evidence “given concern for additional victims.”
Shortly after these allegations and the subsequent arrest were made public, the Boy Scouts of America released a statement addressing the matter.
“We are shocked and disgusted at this described behavior, which is reprehensible and runs counter to everything for which the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) stands. While this incident is unrelated to Scouting and Mr. Hall has not been registered as a BSA volunteer for several years, upon learning of these reports we took immediate action to prohibit him from any future participation in our programs.
Nothing is more important than the safety and protection of children in our Scouting programs – it is our top priority. The BSA has a multi-layered process of safeguards informed by experts, including the following, all of which act as barriers to abuse: a leadership policy that requires at least two youth-protection trained adults be present with youth at all times and bans one-on-one situations where adults would have any interactions alone with children – either in person, online, or via text; a thorough screening process for adult leaders and staff including criminal background checks, and the prompt mandatory reporting of any allegation or suspicion of abuse.”
News outlets such as CBS DFW and Fort Worth Star-Telegram were quick to pick up this story and report on it. If this type of abuse has truly taken place, it is important that parents know what to do with their children and who they simply cannot trust. As a former Boy Scoutmaster, Hall’s duty was to lead and teach young men about life, survival, and honor. If these allegations are true, he clearly cannot be trusted with children.
In the state of Texas, a person commits the offense of indecency with a child if, with a child younger than 17 years of age, whether the child is of the same or opposite sex and regardless of whether the person knows the age of the child at the time of the offense, the person:
with intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person:
It is clear that individuals like the one discussed above need to serve jail time if they are guilty of indecency with a child. Sex crimes involving children can have lingering effects, and it’s important that we make sure perpetrators who commit these types of crimes are not able to repeat their actions. On the other hand, it’s important to make sure that false accusations do not lead to a ruined life.
If you have been accused of indecency with a child in Fort Worth, contact The Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy. Our Tarrant County criminal defense lawyers are here to make sure you have the right assistance for your legal matters. Led by Richard C. McConathy, you can count on our law firm to defend your honor and fight for your freedom. For more information, contact us at (817) 422-5350 or fill out our online contact form here.
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