Ex-Citadel counselor facing sex chargesDocuments detail an investigation by The Citadel"We should have done more," says Citadel President Lt. Gen. John RosaA former camp counselor faces at least six criminal countsRosa asks anyone with relevant information to contact police.
(CNN) -- A general counsel for The Citadel found believable the claims of a boy who said he watched pornography and masturbated together with a camp counselor in 2002.
The information is included in documents released by the South Carolina military college this week in response to a public-records request.
Over the weekend, the nationally known South Carolina college detailed an abuse allegation against one of its alumni, Louis Neal "Skip" ReVille, 32, who was arrested late last month.
He faces at least six charges, including three counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor and three counts of lewd act on a minor, according to Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, police.
In 2007, The Citadel received an allegation from a former camper that five years earlier, ReVille had invited the boy into his room at The Citadel Summer Camp to watch pornography. Another camper was also present. They did not touch each other, but engaged in sexual activity, the college said.
"He says he felt 'dirty' and ashamed as a result, and that his grades and general standard of life suffered tremendously afterward," Citadel general counsel Mark Brandenburg said in an August 8, 2007, email included among the documents released Monday.
After previously identifying the counselor only as "Skip," the camper "immediately identified" ReVille from pictures of camp staff, Brandenburg said in the e-mail.
"Though the general counsel was unable to corroborate the accusation, the college continued its investigation with the camper's family, who made it clear they were very concerned about maintaining their privacy and not having their names publicized," Citadel President Lt. Gen. John Rosa and Doug Snyder, chairman of The Citadel Board of Visitors, said in a Saturday statement.
On Monday, Rosa went further.
"When the family did not pursue the matter, we did not either. We should have," he said.
"Regardless of whether the law said we were supposed to report or not, we should have reported this. We should have taken more action," said Rosa.
An attorney representing the camper who originally reported the alleged abuse to The Citadel told reporters on Monday that the victim's family had asked the college to make sure no other children would be harmed.
"Had The Citadel come forward in 2007 ... what we're seeing now as a community may never have happened," said attorney Mullins McLeod.
The victim's family had thought the college would report the incident and are "grief-stricken" with the knowledge that subsequent kids could have been abused, he said.
Rosa apologized on Monday for not reporting the information law enforcement.
Asked by a reporter what he would tell victims and their families about the college's admitted lack of action, Rosa responded: "I'd say we're profoundly sorry.
"We're sorry that we didn't pursue it more. We acted on what we thought was our best information ... We did not pursue it enough."
Although police did not provide specifics of the charges, CNN affiliate WCBD-TV reported that ReVille is accused of molesting at least five boys.
He has admitted guilt in at least three cases committed between November 2010 and October 2011, according to an affidavit filed in Charleston County court.
The story has attracted national attention in the wake of the Penn State child sex abuse scandal, which led to the ouster of that university's president and legendary head football coach Joe Paterno.
The Citadel, in Charleston, South Carolina, has said a review of ReVille's records in 2007 revealed no other complaints, and his file included a clean background check. He was a highly respected cadet and denied the accusation, the college said.
"At the time, we took what we thought were the necessary steps. It's now clear we should have done more," said Rosa.
He encouraged anyone with information regarding inappropriate behavior involving ReVille to contact police.
ReVille's attorney, Craig Jones Jr., has said his client is sorry for what he did, according to WCBD.
WCBD also reported that ReVille was the upper school principal at Coastal Christian Prep in Mount Pleasant, and had held a number of positions over the years working with area children.
"Hopefully the way he's cooperated, that's one way he can hopefully show ... do what he can to help the victims to whatever extent he can," Jones said, according to WCBD. "There's no way that, obviously, he can repair the damage that's been done."
Font: CNN
0 comments:
Post a Comment