Former Athens Boy Scout leader sued for sex abuse

by Christian Boone, AJC — A longtime Athens Boy Scout leader, whose alleged predatory behavior was detailed in the organization's so-called "perversion files," is being sued by two men alleging years of sexual abuse.

The suit against Ernest Boland, who died in 2013, was filed with a little more than a month remaining on a special provision that extended the statute of limitations in Georgia for childhood victims of sexual abuse seeking damages.

The plaintiffs, whose names are being withheld by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution because they were victims of sexual assault, allege the Boy Scouts of America and its Northeast Georgia Council knew of the accusations against Boland dating back to 1961 — several years before they were abused — but did nothing to stop him.

Two Athens churches named as co-defendants — Green Acres Baptist and Beech Haven Baptist — were also aware of the accusations, the suit alleges, but undertook no actions to protect minor Scouts from Boland’s abuse.