Boy Scouts “Perversion List” Includes Names Of 45 Massachusetts Men

There are 45 Massachusetts men named on the Boy Scouts of America's so-called "perversion list", made public this week by order of the Oregon Supreme Court.  The list names hundreds of  scout leaders and volunteers suspected or charged and convicted of inappropriate sexual conduct with scouts between the years of 1965 and 1985.  Among the names are two from Southeastern Massachusetts; John Freitas III of Dartmouth who was arrested by Dartmouth Police in 1977 and pled guilty to sexual assault charges, and a New Bedford man who was dismissed by the Boy Scouts in the 1960's.

WBSM News is not using his name because there is no record he was ever charged criminally. A second list published by a Los Angeles newspaper revealed another Southcoast name.  James Cooney of Westport was removed from a position with the scouts in 1990 after being convicted of indecent assault and battery on a child.  He received a suspended sentence.