Former Volunteer Fire Dept. Member Charged With Child Sex Abuse
BALTIMORE (WJZ)—A former member of the Ferndale Volunteer Fire Department is arrested for sexually abusing two children, but that's only the beginning of the disturbing charges.
Monqiue Griego has the latest from Anne Arundel County Police.
Police say the suspect not only abused the children, but also videotaped it. Because of the severity of the crimes, he is being held on a multi-million dollar bond.
Parents dropping their kids off at a community dance at the Ferndale Volunteer Fire Department received some shocking news. A former department volunteer and organizer of these dances—31-year-old Preston Lamont Scott--was arrested for sexually abusing two children.
"It's a shock to the neighborhood. You wouldn't expect it. When it hits local, it's a little bit different, hits home," said Donnie Miller, parent.
Even more disturbing is that Anne Arundel County Police believe Scott videotaped some of the abuse, which allegedly occurred over a six-year period.
"At this point it doesn't appear to be random. These victims were known to Mr. Scott," said Justin Mulcahy, Anne Arundel County Police.
Fire department leaders say Scott, who resigned in good standing in May, was not a firefighter but an administrative employee.
"He was involved in fundraising activities. He would come up if we had a bad storm or something," said Joseph Wojtowycz, president of the Ferndale Volunteer Fire Company.
The department handed out fliers to parents dropping their kids off at the dance, letting them know about the arrest but also that none of the charges are tied to his work at the department.
"Our investigation has not led to us finding that he touched any of the children at these dances inappropriately," Mulcahy said.
Despite Scott's arrest, parents WJZ spoke with had not lost trust in the department or its events.
"Approximately 20 chaperones are here, as well as a few police officers, so I don't think anybody has to worry about anything here at the dance," said Miller, parent.
Scott is facing a long list of charges, including various sex offenses, child abuse, sodomy and child pornography for filming a sex act.
Police say anyone with information or other possible victims should contact police at 410-222-3479.
Police are not releasing any information about the victims to protect their identities.
Scott remains in jail on a $22 million bond.
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