Boy Scout Camp Director Indicted by Federal Grand Jury for Producing, Distributing, and Possessing Child Pornography

GRAND RAPIDS, MI—Scott Allan Herrick, 39, of Twin Lakes, Michigan, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges that he sexually exploited children, U.S. Attorney Donald A. Davis announced today. The indictment alleges that on four occasions Herrick surreptitiously videotaped boys as they were dressing in the boys’ locker room in the YMCA in Muskegon. Herrick was also charged with two counts of distributing child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography. Herrick is scheduled to appear for his arraignment on July 27, 2010, before the Honorable Ellen S. Carmody, U.S. Magistrate Judge. Each count of attempting to produce child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ incarceration and a maximum penalty of 30 years’ incarceration. Herrick faces incarceration of five to 20 years for each act of distribution. A conviction for possession of child pornography carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ incarceration. In total, Herrick could face up to 170 years of imprisonment, lifetime supervised release, fines of $1,750,000, and an order of restitution.

Herrick was the camp director for Gerber Boy Scout Camp in Twin Lakes, Michigan. Herrick also worked as a pool safety instructor for third grade boys at the YMCA in Muskegon, Michigan. Herrick was trading child pornography and was discovered during a series of undercover FBI operations. On July 1, 2010, FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) agents executed a search warrant on the Gerber Boy Scout Camp and discovered evidence of child pornography. Herrick was arrested on July 8, 2010, and has been held in custody.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor’s offices, an Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force, federal, state, and local law enforcement are working closely together to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children. The partners in Project Safe Childhood work to educate local communities about the dangers of online child exploitation, and to teach children how to protect themselves. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit the following web site: www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The continuing investigation of this matter is being conducted by FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Anyone with information regarding this matter is asked to call the FBI at (616) 456-5489. Prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Mekaru.

The charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.