A former Boy Scout volunteer has been handed a sentence of over two decades in prison for surreptitiously installing cameras in the restrooms of a Missouri scout camp. The alarming incidents took place at the S Bar F Scout Ranch in St. Francois County in July 2021.

The volunteer was found guilty of the production and attempted production of child pornography and has been ordered to provide restitution to the victims.

ZStack – Make Your Immune System Clean, Resilient, and Resistant (Use code RVM for discount)

The court documents revealed that David Lee Nelson, 41, concealed the cameras in paper towel dispensers, strategically positioning them to capture a shower stall and other areas of the bathroom. The Justice Department, in a press release, described this as an appalling violation of privacy. His crimes were brought to light when other leaders were assisting the children with cleaning the restroom and stumbled upon the cameras.

Full Justice Department press release:

ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel on Thursday sentenced a former Boy Scout volunteer to 22 years in prison for hiding cameras in bathrooms at a St. Francois County, Missouri scout camp.

Judge Sippel also ordered David Lee Nelson to pay $55,000 in special assessments that will go to a fund for victims and prevention programs and $6,810 to pay for counseling for the victims in this case. After he gets out of prison, Nelson will be on supervised release for life, with special conditions that include a prohibition against any contact with minors without permission.

Nelson hid two cameras in bathrooms at the S Bar F Scout Ranch in St. Francois County in July of 2021 while working there as a volunteer. Nelson hid the cameras in paper towel dispensers, positioning them so they would capture a shower stall and other portions of the bathroom.

One camera was discovered when a scout leader and scouts were cleaning out one of the restroom stalls. A search uncovered another camera, and leaders then called the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department. When questioned later by a sheriff’s deputy after being spotted near the bathrooms, Nelson lied and said he was looking for a cell phone charger that he’d left in the stall.

During Thursday’s hearing, victims and their parents said Nelson was supposed to be protecting the scouts and was supposed to be someone children could trust. Nelson’s crimes, they said, have now left them unable to trust others. The victims also said they now experience fear and discomfort every time they try to use a public bathroom.

Nelson, 41, of Redmond, Washington, pleaded guilty in January to two counts of production of child pornography and two counts of attempted production of child pornography.

The St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Drake is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

One camera was stumbled upon by a scout leader and scouts while cleaning out a restroom stall. A subsequent search led to the discovery of another camera, prompting the leaders to alert the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department. Upon being questioned by a sheriff’s deputy after being spotted near the restrooms, Nelson resorted to lying and claimed he was searching for a misplaced cell phone charger in the stall.

6 Must Know Tips About The Aftermath of Self Defense

During the hearing, victims and their parents expressed their disappointment and disillusionment with Nelson, highlighting that he was entrusted with the well-being of the scouts and was expected to be a figure of trust for the children. The victims and their families further disclosed that as a result of Nelson’s actions, they find it difficult to place their trust in others and experience fear and discomfort when using public restrooms.

Following the discovery of the cameras, the leader promptly alerted the authorities, ultimately leading to Nelson’s apprehension.

The presiding judge also mandated Nelson to contribute $55,000 for the benefit of victim funds and prevention programs, along with $6,810 for the victims’ counseling. Post his imprisonment, Nelson will be subjected to supervised release for the remainder of his life and is prohibited from having contact with minors without permission.

According to the initial indictment, Nelson had recorded an 11-year-old, a 13-year-old, and a 15-year-old. The case was brought to trial as part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative initiated by the Justice Department in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. It involves the collaboration of federal, state, and local resources to more effectively apprehend criminals who target children online and to rescue victims of sex trafficking.

Project Safe Childhood is a comprehensive strategy to combat child exploitation, combining law enforcement endeavors, community action, and public awareness. Launched in May 2006, the overarching goal is to decrease the incidence of sexual exploitation of children. The initiative encompasses five crucial components: building partnerships, coordinating law enforcement, training PSC partners, public awareness, and accountability.

The proliferation of online predators has become a particularly insidious issue, especially for parents striving to shield their children. However, the prevalence of individuals employing offline tactics to target children is still considerable.

The Boy Scouts of America has grappled with a significant number of instances involving child predators preying on children under the organization’s care. In 2022, the organization reached a substantial settlement with 82,000 victims who were abused while minors in its programs. The organization disbursed over $2.5 billion in restitution to the victims, marking the severity of the issue at hand.

Radicals UNMASKED: Saul Alinsky’s ‘Rules For Radicals’ and Today’s Political Landscape [VIDEOS]

Emergency Preparedness Kits - My Patriot Supply

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Red Voice Media. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.