Lyle Scott Mackay, a former Boy Scout leader, has been sentenced to three years to life at the Utah State Prison. Mackay was charged in 3rd District Court with one count of first-degree felony aggravated sexual abuse of a child. He pleaded guilty in November to attempted aggravated sexual abuse of a child, also a first-degree felony but carrying a lesser potential punishment.
Mackay had been the young boy’s Cub Scout leader prior to becoming his Boy Scout leader. The victim went to Mackay’s to play a board game on March 18 of last year. After arriving, the boy learned that Mackay wanted to watch a college basketball game instead and took him into the bedroom, according to the document. That’s when Mackay assaulted him.
When the boy’s mother arrived to pick up her son, she noticed he was pale and nervous. She asked him what had happened and he told her that Mackay had touched him. She contacted police that same evening.
He told police they had interacted previously in the company of others, but this was the first time they had been alone together inside Mackay’s bedroom. Of course, this is a clear violation of the Boy Scout’s two-deep rule which prohibits any adult Boy Scout leader from being alone with a scout.
The charging documents note Mackay occupied a position of special trust in relation to the victim. This is another example of how child molesters go where the children are, targeting youth-serving organizations like Boy Scouts, gymnastic groups, and church youth groups.
While this is the only case involving Lyle Scott Mackay, it is highly probable that he assaulted other children. If any others were assaulted by this Boy Scout leader it is imperative that law enforcement be notified immediately.