Who Do You Trust?

[ChrisH]

Originally posted by Jack Jones
As I understand it, child molesters seldom, if ever, truly reform. Is it worth the consequence to buck those odds? My answer is a resounding NO-WAY. US FIRST must deliver known molesters from temptation by showing them the door, ASAP, end of story!

As a team we have done this even though the individual involved:

a) showed evidence of a changed life
b) was never arrested or convicted (though he admitted his deeds when confronted)
c) had not, to our knowledge, molested anybody in over thirty years
d) was a family member of one of our students

This individual is welcome to support the team by showing up at our fundraising events and attending our local regional. He has also helped by making prototype hardware, at home, with no students present. He does not travel with the team, nor does he attend team meetings any more.

Did we make a big deal about it? No. When team leadership became aware of the issue they simply went to him in private and asked if the allegations were true. When he admitted them he was asked not to be an official part of the team any longer. He agreed and that was the end of it. Most of the team never knew what happened.

Some of his family members are still dealing with the after effects of things he did many years ago. In some respects they will probably never be completely healed, though things are getting better slowly. The potential devestation this kind of behavior can cause is reason enough to remove such an individual from the possibility of a repetition. Letting somebody like this remain with a team is like playing with dynomite. Most of the time it is safe to handle, if you are careful. But if you screw up .... somebody gets shredded.

It's not worth the risk.