Scout leader arrested; allegedly molested boys
Jim Walsh Aug. 18, 2005 12:00 AM
Mesa police arrested a 25-year-old Boy Scout leader who admitted to molesting two boys in his troop.
Chance Lee Ray was arrested on suspicion of three counts of sexual conduct with a minor and one count of attempted sexual conduct with a minor, according to Sgt. Chuck Trapani, a Mesa police spokesman.
The allegations against Ray first surfaced on July 20 when a 14-year-old boy told his parents that the scout leader engaged in sex acts with him several times during the last two years, Trapani said.
Trapani said Ray, who lives in Mesa with his parents and works for his father's construction company, was a trusted friend of the victim's family. He met the victim's family at church.
Ray was arrested when he admitted to police on Aug. 5 that he molested the 14-year-old victim and a second young victim who also was a member of his troop, police said.
On Saturday, detectives interviewed the second victim, who confirmed that Ray molested him, Trapani said. Additional charges are pending and detectives believe there is a possibility of additional victims.
Police urge parents to question children who know Ray through the Boy Scouts about whether he might have touched them inappropriately. Parents who suspect their children may have been victimized should call detectives at (480) 644-3076.