Attorney: Accusations against Kans. Scout leader too late for action

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Photo credit George Frey - Getty Images News

This week a group of lawyers filed suit in Philadelphia over alleged sex abuse at the hands of Boy Scoutmasters.

A group that calls itself Abused In Scouting claims the Boy Scouts of America hierarchy for decades has covered up for pedophiles, and claims it has identified 350 Scoutmasters and volunteers it says preyed on boys. The suit was filed on behalf of a former scout from Pennsylvania who says his abuse went on four years in the 70's.

Kansas City attorney Rebecca Randles has had numerous inquiries about an alleged notorious scout leader in Kansas, but she said the victims waited too long.

"Kansas' statute of limitations for childhood sex abuse is difficult if a person as reached the age of majority prior to 1992," Randles said.

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A spokesman for Abused in Scouting says there are predators in Boy Scouts all over the country. 

We reached out to the Heart of America Council, representing Scouts in the Kansas City area. A spokesman declined our request for an interview. A BSA statement is quoted below:

"The Heart of America Council and the Boy Scouts of America maintain steadfast support for victims of abuse. One instance of abuse is one too many. Nothing is more important than the safety and protection of children in Scouting and we are outraged that there have been times when individuals took advantage of our programs to abuse innocent children. Strict Safe Scouting and youth protection policies are in place and we mandate that all suspected instances of abuse are reported immediately to law enforcement. The Heart of America Council is committed to delivering safe and high-quality programs for more than 29,000 Scouts and their families across nineteen counties in eastern Kansas and western Missouri."