Boy Scout Camp Director Arrested for Trading and Possessing Child Pornography

GRAND RAPIDS, MI—Scott Allan Herrick, 39, of Twin Lakes, Michigan, was charged in a criminal complaint alleging that he received, distributed, and possessed child pornography, U.S. Attorney Donald A. Davis announced today.

Herrick had his initial appearance in federal court on July 8, 2010, before the Honorable Joseph G. Scoville, U.S. Magistrate Judge. Each act of receipt or distribution of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ incarceration and a maximum penalty of 20 years’ incarceration, a maximum of a lifetime term of supervised release, and fines. A conviction for possession of child pornography carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ incarceration, lifetime supervised release, and fines.

Herrick was the camp director for Gerber Boy Scout Camp in Twin Lakes, 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. On July 2, 2010, Magistrate Scoville authorized a warrant for Herrick’s arrest.

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 a criminal complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.