JROTC Instructor Charged With Sex Abuse of Child (West Virginia)

http://www.wowktv.com/story/16069109/dunbar-man-charged-with-sex-abuse-of-child ^ | 11/18/2011 | Erin Worrell/WOWK-TV

[Morgana]

DUNBAR WVa-

Dunbar Police have arrested a man on charges of sexual abuse.

Edwin Albert Smuda, 58, of Dunbar, is charged with sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, custodian or person of trust. He is a Junior ROTC instructor at South Charleston High School.

According to release from Chief E. E. Whittington Smuda was arrested at him home Thursday afternoon. He was arraigned by a Kanawha County Magistrate. Bond is set at $25,000.

Smuda will be back in court at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2011.

[Morgana]

I am conflicted. I don't know anything about South Charleston High or this man. Is there any FReeper here that does? Do you think he did it?

[Jonty30]

Too early to make an evaluation.

Could be some sort of false accusation by some pissed off kid.

[Joe 6-pack]

"Could be some sort of false accusation by some pissed off kid."

Of course if the guy is guilty, he should swing, but I predicted, back when the Sandusky story broke, there would be not only the original victims of his predation, but a whole new slew of victims who were falsely accused as a result of the publicity. These folks are also victims of Sandusky.

[Morgana]

“Could be some sort of false accusation by some pissed off kid.”

Kinda thinking the same thing, is why I am asking if any FReepers know of him. I question the timing of this. In other local news stories “the molesting” happened several months ago. So why report it now?

[TSgt]

Looks credible....

He and Smuda were watching a movie when Smuda asked him to come over and lie on the couch with him, according to a complaint filed in Kanawha Magistrate Court. The student agreed to do so. Smuda then started rubbing his chest and moved his hands down toward his waist, according to the complaint. The boy told police that made him feel uncomfortable, so he got up and went into the kitchen to get a beverage. He returned to the room and sat back down in the chair, at which point Smuda again asked him to lie down on the couch, according to the complaint. The student told police "he doesn't know why he did, but he got up and went over and Edwin Smuda started rubbing on his chest and telling (the student) how much he loved him," the complaint said. The teen said Smuda then put his hands in his pants and touched his genitals.

[ScottinVA]

If it is indeed false, it’s going to have a chilling effect on involvement by adults in programs such as these. People are simply going to conclude it’s not worth the risk to their reputation. Unfortunately, the damage to one’s reputation isn’t only based on guilt... it’s about the seriousness of the charge.

[apillar]

Maybe he was one of the recruiters tasked to increase the number of homosexuals in the military and make them feel welcome since the repeal of don’t ask, don’t tell. He was just testing to find out if the boy was gay so he could meet his quota... /sarcasm

[jagusafr]

Quite apart from everything else, if this JROTC instructor was hanging out off-duty with a 16 year old boy, he’s 1)stupid, and 2)fraternizing. “Sue me now, please?” Jeez.

Colonel, USAFR

[Morgana]

That is just it Colonel I thought they were not allowed to “fraternize”. Would you clarify the rules on this please? Something is very wrong here.

[TSgt]

Agreed, why put yourself in this situation? Dumb, dumb, dumb.

[jagusafr]

Fraternization actually was an offense under the Articles of War (pre-Uniform Code of Military Justice) and was aimed much more at officers gambling, drinking and loaning to/borrowing from enlisted men, long before the Kelly Flynn era of having sex with the husbands of enlisted members. It’s currently Article 134, conduct detrimental to good order and discipline.

Hanging out with junior members, whether it’s Chiefs and airmen or Colonels and sergeants, just isn’t okay, because it creates an impression of favoritism, whether justified or not. And, of course, this kind of stuff happens, too.

Colonel, USAFR

[informavoracious]

Another way to look at it is that some victims of other molesters may now have the courage to come forward given the public reaction in the Sandusky case. Many victims are ashamed and fear not being believed; predators count on that. Seeing a sympathetic public can ease those fears.