A 22-year-old Vancouver, Washington man has been sentenced to five years in prison for sexually abusing a young Boy Scout over the course of three years.
According to a local media outlet, “Shawn E. Turner, 22, of Vancouver pleaded guilty in Clark County Superior Court to attempted second-degree child rape. News stories describe the abuse as escalating from fondling to rape, including Turner raping the boy at a Boy Scout camporee at the Clark County Fairgrounds. It is not clear if Turner was a Scout himself at the time or an adult volunteer. News stories describe him only as a Scout “mentor.”
The abuse began when the victim was 13, according to court records. However, the victim’s father said Monday that Turner began “grooming” his son for the abuse when his son was 11. The victim was a Boy Scout in a local troop.
Sexual abuse always begins with the grooming of a vulnerable child. That is why it is important for parents to recognize these warning signals of grooming. Grooming doesn’t take place in a vacuum — one child is singled out for special attention, lavished with gifts and praise. Once the predator gains the child’s confidence, the abuser starts taking advantage of the situation. Read more about grooming here.