Hudson Valley Council ignores BSA Youth Protection Policy

[RememberSchiff]

Update:

Oct 21, 2016: (Michael) Kelsey, a former Dutchess County legislator convicted of sexual abuse in a case involving two Boy Scouts, was sentenced to seven years in prison and 10 years post-release supervision Friday.

...

The 38-year-old former assistant scoutmaster was found guilty in May of first-degree sexual abuse and first-degree attempted sexual abuse, both felonies, along with forcible touching and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, all misdemeanors.

Kelsey’s victims were two 15-year-old boys in 2014. During the trial, the young men testified Kelsey touched one of them and attempted to touch the other while they were sleeping during a Boy Scout camping trip at the Cranberry Lake State Campground in August 2014.

Both teens spoke up in St. Lawrence County Court on Friday before Judge Felix Catena, who presided over Kelsey’s trial. The teens asked the judge to sentence Kelsey to the maximum punishment — 11 years in prison.

...

Kelsey is classified as a sex offender and will have to register accordingly, Catena said. A risk assessment will be conducted prior to Kelsey’s release from prison to determine how long he will have to be registered as a sex offender.

link with more info.

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/2016/10/21/kelsey-sentenced-7-years-boy-scout-sex-abuse-case/92516600/

I found no mention of Hudson Valley Council being present at sentencing or having any comment.

Edited September 14, 2019 by RememberSchiff
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[RememberSchiff]

Update Feb 27,2017

Michael N. Kelsey, 38, a Dutchess County lawyer and former county legislatort, was automatically disbarred last May when he was convicted of sexual assault charges in St. Lawrence County.

On Feb. 22, the state Appellate Court, second department, affirmed the disbarment and ordered that his name be removed from the state roll of attorneys.

A county court jury found Kelsey guilty of sexual abuse, attempted sexual assault, forcible touching and endangering the welfare of children.

He was sentenced to seven years in prison, and for the past four months he has been an inmate at Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora.

Kelsey was admitted to practicing law in 2009. He was serving as a county legislator for the 25^th district when he was arrested in 2014.

http://westfaironline.com/86290/ny-state-court-upholds-disbarment-of-dutchess-county-lawyer/

Edited September 14, 2019 by RememberSchiff
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[RememberSchiff]

Update: March 16, Found guilty in criminal case and now the civil case.

Fast forward to March 2017. It's been about 10 months since Kelsey was found guilty of first-degree sexual abuse and first-degree attempted sexual abuse, both felonies, along with forcible touching and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, all misdemeanors. Kelsey, 38, is serving his seven year prison sentence (plus a decade of post-release supervision).

And the families of the two teens young men who both testified, during the trial, that they had trusted and looked up to Kelsey, which made his actions even more inexcusable have launched a $320 million civil lawsuit against Kelsey, Troop 95's former Scoutmaster Rich Robbins and the Boy Scouts of America organization at local and national levels.

For nearly two months, the Boy Scouts of America, including its Hudson Valley Council and Robbins, knew about the accusations against Kelsey, but did not alert authorities or the teens' families, according to the lawsuit, filed March 16 in the New York State Supreme Court in Dutchess County.

...

The Boy Scouts of America and Hudson Valley Council say national protocols were followed and immediate action was taken to remove Kelsey from the Scouts. Robbins could not be reached for comment. Kelsey plans to appeal his criminal conviction. His lawyer, Shane Hug, could not be reached for comment.

Kelsey was suspended from the Scouts in October 2014, state police have said. But neither the boys' families, the police, or other Troop 95 families knew about the abuse or Kelsey's suspension until the teens told their parents that December.

"The Boy Scout organization never reported anything until after they were confronted by the parents of the victims," said state police Senior Investigator Timothy Peets in September.

The Boy Scouts obviously thought the allegations were serious enough to suspend Kelsey, said Edward's father, *John. And Kelsey was not "some guy who had just joined the troop — this is a life-long, prominent figure within the Boy Scout organization. But you don’t think it warrants calling the authorities or at least notifying the parents?"

...

more at source link

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/2017/03/23/local-families-boy-scouts-failed-sons-sexual-abuse-case/99409696/

Edited September 14, 2019 by RememberSchiff
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[RememberSchiff]

Update 9/14/2019:  Hakuna Matata, au naturel and alleged BSA inaction.

More incredible details at source: 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/boy-scout-leader-sang-hakuna-matata-while-naked-organization-didn-n1048526

Edited September 14, 2019 by RememberSchiff

[Buggie]

This article hits some of the key notes of YPT in that it talks about grooming. Not only of the kids, but conditioning the adults views. It also emphasised one of the big reasons folks don't follow through with reporting. In this case the abuser was well known and admired/liked (the conditioning I spoke of). Lastly it brings up a situation that makes things like this very difficult to report, the power/authority the abuser can have on the community. And a community can be large as a city/region/state or as small as the scouting council/district/troop. 

We can never relax in our review of everyone around us. We must watch and ensure that YPT is constantly followed. It can be as simple as seeing where another adult needs some backup because by accident they wandered out of range into a 1 on 1 situation or a scout wandered into a 1 on 1. It can happen very innocently enough. I do this for my scouters and they do this for me. I like to think of it as an adult buddy system.

The most important thing I pray for is that we have the courage and bravery to follow through and do the reporting. Especially when it is a friend who violated the rules. Even when doing so could destroy us. People are known to vigorously defend the accused even to the point of willful blindness of the evidence.

The consequences of not following YPT are destructive to those we are trusted to protect. 

Edited September 14, 2019 by Buggie
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[T2Eagle]

I will never understand this Sm's decision making.  By his own admission he "suspended" the violating adult.  None of us should think we can handle something even remotely like this on our own.

[RememberSchiff]

On 3/23/2017 at 7:14 AM, RememberSchiff said:

Update: March 16, Found guilty in criminal case and now the civil case.

Fast forward to March 2017. It's been about 10 months since Kelsey was found guilty of first-degree sexual abuse and first-degree attempted sexual abuse, both felonies, along with forcible touching and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, all misdemeanors. Kelsey, 38, is serving his seven year prison sentence (plus a decade of post-release supervision).

And the families of the two teens young men who both testified, during the trial, that they had trusted and looked up to Kelsey, which made his actions even more inexcusable have launched a $320 million civil lawsuit against Kelsey, Troop 95's former Scoutmaster Rich Robbins and the Boy Scouts of America organization at local and national levels.

For nearly two months, the Boy Scouts of America, including its Hudson Valley Council and Robbins, knew about the accusations against Kelsey, but did not alert authorities or the teens' families, according to the lawsuit, filed March 16 in the New York State Supreme Court in Dutchess County.

...

The Boy Scouts of America and Hudson Valley Council say national protocols were followed and immediate action was taken to remove Kelsey from the Scouts. Robbins could not be reached for comment. Kelsey plans to appeal his criminal conviction. His lawyer, Shane Hug, could not be reached for comment.

Kelsey was suspended from the Scouts in October 2014, state police have said. But neither the boys' families, the police, or other Troop 95 families knew about the abuse or Kelsey's suspension until the teens told their parents that December.

"The Boy Scout organization never reported anything until after they were confronted by the parents of the victims," said state police Senior Investigator Timothy Peets in September.

The Boy Scouts obviously thought the allegations were serious enough to suspend Kelsey, said Edward's father, *John. And Kelsey was not "some guy who had just joined the troop — this is a life-long, prominent figure within the Boy Scout organization. But you don’t think it warrants calling the authorities or at least notifying the parents?"

...

more at source link

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/2017/03/23/local-families-boy-scouts-failed-sons-sexual-abuse-case/99409696/

Update May 6, 2022:

Former Dutchess County Legislator Michael Kelsey (R-Pleasant Valley), convicted in 2016 for sexually abusing boy scouts in 2014, has been released from prison.  The former lawmaker was released on Thursday, May 5, 2022.

Kelsey, 38 at the time was found guilty on May 12, 2016, on all counts of a felony indictment charging him with sexual abuse and attempted sexual assault.  He also was indicted on misdemeanor counts of forcible touching and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

A jury determined that Kelsey had sexual contact with one teen and attempted to have sexual contact with a second between August 13 and 20, 2014, when he was leading a Boy Scout troop from Fishkill on a week-long 50-mile hike and outdoor excursion. They stayed at upstate scout camps.

Upon his release from state prison in Hudson, he is under the supervision of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision’s Dutchess County office, with conditions.  His parole is scheduled to expire in 2032.

https://midhudsonnews.com/2022/05/06/former-dutchess-legislator-convicted-of-sex-crimes-released-from-prison/

 

[RememberSchiff]

On 5/6/2022 at 9:00 AM, RememberSchiff said:

Update May 6, 2022:

Former Dutchess County Legislator Michael Kelsey (R-Pleasant Valley), convicted in 2016 for sexually abusing boy scouts in 2014, has been released from prison.  The former lawmaker was released on Thursday, May 5, 2022.

Kelsey, 38 at the time was found guilty on May 12, 2016, on all counts of a felony indictment charging him with sexual abuse and attempted sexual assault.  He also was indicted on misdemeanor counts of forcible touching and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

A jury determined that Kelsey had sexual contact with one teen and attempted to have sexual contact with a second between August 13 and 20, 2014, when he was leading a Boy Scout troop from Fishkill on a week-long 50-mile hike and outdoor excursion. They stayed at upstate scout camps.

Upon his release from state prison in Hudson, he is under the supervision of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision’s Dutchess County office, with conditions.  His parole is scheduled to expire in 2032.

https://midhudsonnews.com/2022/05/06/former-dutchess-legislator-convicted-of-sex-crimes-released-from-prison/

 

Update Dec 20, 2023

 

CANTON, New York (WWNY) - New York state’s sex offender registry is being challenged in court by a former Boy Scout assistant scoutmaster and convicted sex offender Michael Kelsey.

“He’s challenging the constitutionality of the Sex Offenders Registry Act itself, indicating that the act as constructed deprived individuals of constitutional rights,” said St. Lawrence County Attorney Stephen Button.

Kelsey, convicted in 2016 of sexually abusing Boy Scouts at Camp Massawepie in the town of Piercefield, claims the sex offender registry infringes on his First Amendment rights, including his right to assembly and freedom of religion...

According to the state registry, Kelsey is a Level 2 sex offender, meaning the state thinks there’s a moderate risk of repeat offense. The registry also designated him as a sexually violent offender.

Kelsey is currently in the Dutchess County Jail. Officials there say Kelsey was brought in on December 5 on an alleged parole violation.

More at source:

https://www.wwnytv.com/2023/12/19/convicted-sex-offender-suing-slc-state-over-registry/

[RememberSchiff]

Update April 10, 2025: 

"The April 9 arrest on undisclosed charges resulted in Michael Kelsey being held at the Dutchess County Jail Wednesday night.  Kelsey was previously arrested in 2023 for a parole violation."

Source:

https://midhudsonnews.com/2025/04/10/former-lawmaker-and-boy-scout-leader-kelsey-arrested-for-another-parole-violation/

 

Update Sept 13, 2025:

"On Thursday, September 11, Kelsey was returned to prison for the April parole violation.  He is confined in the St. Lawrence Correctional Facility."

https://midhudsonnews.com/2025/09/13/former-legislator-who-molested-scouts-back-in-prison-after-violating-parole-again/

[skeptic]

On 9/6/2016 at 7:36 AM, perdidochas said:

 

Makes no sense at all.  From what I've read (not all the evidence, I know), Mr. Horton should no  longer be working for BSA. He did nothing criminally wrong (he wasn't a mandatory reporter per NY law), but he made YP useless. I'm also wondering about the other ASMs and the SM in the troop that Kelsey was a part of.  I know as an ASM, I'm reporting any ASM that is sleeping in a car with anybody but his sons. 

Two comments.  "How could this happen again"?  Because some individuals either are not able to understand the pretty clear YP rules, or chose to ignore them due to ignorance and stupidity.  The perpetrator is/was a lawyer, which in itself might be a better lead.  NOBODY should ignore YP rules, and certainly not just because at the time they were not legally required by the State of N.Y.; they still were by the then BSA.  

The reporter though also as in the past has polished this by again stretching the information to make it look even worse.  As far as I know, the BSA and its various acronyms NEVER called the Ineligible Volunteer Files "Perversion Files"; only the yellow journalists and vulture lawyers did and do.  The writer aoslo throws out numbers that are misleading, and the hype is in the headline because it is again Scouting America, and they continue to make it even worse withoput noting that the issues in Scouting were never at the estimated levels of abuse as in other Non Scouting groups, even noting in their own story that the level of abuse in this area was 0.16 percent per thousand.  Society will NEVER stop the issue completely, and more harm has resulted for many that were forced to deal again with trama that was lessened with time and seems now to simply be a slap in the face again with the legal mess and fees going to the wrong place.  Survivors are still being cheated in the original fiasco and many are now gone due to insurance pushback and the greed of a few lawyers.  And this particular lawyer appears to be one of those alredy fleecing victims/survivors.  

If anything, this does reinforce the fact that vigilance by ALL Scouters and those connected needs to be paid, and YP IS NOT SOMETHING TO BE IGNORED, NO MATTER HOW HARD IT MAY BE TO DO WHAT IS MANDATED.  It is all of our responsibities to keep eyes open and follow up as needed just to try and assure we have not missed something.  Better to report it and be wrong, than to ignore it and then have another similar problem.

 

I truly do not understand how that Council could NOT have acted in accordance with YP, as its basic structure was already in place when this discouraging event happened.  At the same time, the Press needs to stop using SA, children, and tragedy as tools to make it even worse than it may already be.  Way back when it was called yellow journalism, and today that is still what it is.  

[Tron]

Typically I am pretty hawkish on why is this coming up/dredged up/being made a thing but this time ... geez. This is the sort of guy that needs to get hit as hard as possible and this case needs to be publicized as much as possible. So from what I can tell we have a relatively wealthy (at least compared to the rest of the US population), well educated, law degree, politically connected, strong arm sort of d-bag. I wonder what/how he threatened the council back in 2014-2016 to try and keep this from the police? Did he threaten to sue? Did he threaten to dry up donations? Epstein junior here needs more spotlight. 

[johnsch322]

9 hours ago, skeptic said:

NEVER called the Ineligible Volunteer Files "Perversion Files"; only the yellow journalists and vulture lawyers did and do

I would like to add that the survivor/victims also call these files the "Perversion Files" and the reason being is these are the files that contain the name of the perverts who were part of the BSA who committed perverted acts upon us. Naming them "Ineligible Volunteer Files" is like putting lipstick on a pig and calling the pig a lady.

Youth Protection should never be ignored or taken lightly, and I am glad you pointed that out. The ramification to victims is so devastating that even one incident is one too many.

[skeptic]

5 hours ago, johnsch322 said:

I would like to add that the survivor/victims also call these files the "Perversion Files" and the reason being is these are the files that contain the name of the perverts who were part of the BSA who committed perverted acts upon us. Naming them "Ineligible Volunteer Files" is like putting lipstick on a pig and calling the pig a lady.

Youth Protection should never be ignored or taken lightly, and I am glad you pointed that out. The ramification to victims is so devastating that even one incident is one too many.

While I can understand your perspective on the use of the "perversion files", I feel that is not constructive to "fixing" things.  The IV files were more than mos groups or organizations attempted, and even with this additional untenable episode, YP is still better than most other groups and I have read is a guide for others that finally choose to do something.  Most of the people in the IV files were not deviants, or so it appears.  The sad fact is that we have sick people in the larger society that are always trying to get around any protections and prey on the weak and less mature.  And we still have far too many government agencies that are worse, in some respects, than the predators, since they take payoffs or whatever or simply do not want to make the efforts for some reason.  So, we that continue towork at it must be vigilant and pray that we keep most of them out and away.  Zero tolerance is wonderful, but it also will NOT stop a few sick people.