An assistant scout master in Long Island is facing child pornography charges after hundreds of photos of children as young as 5 years old were found on his computer.
The Nassau County District Attorney's Office said on Thursday that Edward Orenchuk III was arrested and charged with "three counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child as a sexually motivated felony and three counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child," according to NBC News.
Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice alleged that Orenchuk had posted a number of the photos on the Internet in September and October, allowing investigators to trace the images to his home. She said that Orenchuk had admitted having the photos on his computer after officers began searching his residence.
The Boy Scouts of America said that Orenchuk, who was an Eagle Scout, had been dismissed from his position as assistant scout master of Troop 243.
"The behavior in these allegations runs counter to everything for which the Boy Scouts of America stands," the organization told WABC. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to anyone who may be a victim of this type of behavior."
Orenchuk has also been removed from the work schedule at the Garden City Public Library, where he worked as a page. He is being held on $400,000 bond. Prosecutors insisted that a high bail was necessary because of Orenchuk's access to children. His father said that he hoped to use his house as collateral to free his son, WCBS-TV reported.
In October, lawyers for victims released 14,500 pages of so-called "perversion files" that they said proved the Boy Scouts of America had covered up sexual abuse on minors.
