Scout leader charged with abusing children

BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. -- A Blue Springs Boy Scout leader was charged Thursday with 32 counts of abusing young boys, police said.

David Neil Brown, 40, turned himself into police Thursday morning. In a brief court appearance, he was charged with 19 counts of first-degree sodomy and 13 counts of second-degree sodomy, said Blue Springs police Sgt. Mike Kruger.

Brown is being held on $1 million bond.

Kruger said the cases involved six boys from 13 to 15 years old, with most of the abuse occurring in the last two years. "He's a Boy Scout leader, and that accounts for some of his victims," Kruger said. "Others were friends or acquaintances of his children."

A probable-cause statement said police began investigating Brown in February, when a 15-year-old boy and his mother filed a complaint alleging Brown had abused the boy at various places, including in Indiana, at Scout Ranch near Blue Spring Lake and at Brown's home.

During the investigation, Brown admitted to having sexual contact with that boy and others, police said.