Former Boy Scout Leader And Community Volunteer Arrested For Alleged Decades-Old Sexual Abuse

Police in Washington County, Oregon have arrested a former Boy Scouts of America leader and longtime community organizations volunteer after he was accused of sexually abusing a child decades ago.

Detectives arrested 63-year-old Henry Stephen Bauer at his home last Wednesday, the Washington County Sheriff's Office said in a statement dated June 3. He was placed in the Washington County jail.

The arrest stemmed from a report the department received of a woman who accused Bauer of sexually abusing her when she was a child, which prompted a police investigation into the elderly man in March.

According to police, a grand jury indicted Bauer on four counts of sexual abuse in the first degree on May 27.

Detectives discovered during the investigation that Bauer had a lengthy history of volunteering with various organizations where he had access to children. They also learned that Bauer's concerning behavior with children dated to the late 1970s and he was removed as a Boy Scout leader in 1993 amid allegations of abuse of a young boy.

Police said they "strongly believe" that Bauer had other victims that were not reported to law enforcement agencies. They have urged anyone with helpful information about Bauer — regardless of the length of time it has been — to contact the sheriff's office by calling (503) 846-2700.

Authorities listed the Alpenrose Dairyville, Neah-Kah-Nie-High-School, Portland Revels, Rockaway Beach Police Department and Tillamook Association for the Performing Arts as the organizations Bauer had a known connection to.

The Cascade Pacific Council, Boy Scouts of America described Bauer's behavior in a statement as being "reprehensible and opposed to everything for which the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) stands," KPTV reported.

"We revoked Mr. Bauer’s registration nearly 30 years ago upon learning of allegations against him, took action to ban him from any future participation in the BSA, and have since reported the allegations to law enforcement," the organization was quoted as saying.

The council also said it would fully cooperate with law enforcement on the investigation.