By Brandi Watters
The Herald Bulletin
ANDERSON, Ind. — The Richland Township Volunteer Fire Department is reeling in the wake of news that one of its own has been arrested on suspicion of fondling a 14-year-old girl, according to fire officials.
For Richland Fire Chief Bryan Frank, the arrest of 13-year veteran Capt. Larry “Scott” Pearson, 31, of Anderson, is especially difficult because Frank allowed Pearson to remain in the fire service even after Pearson was convicted of felony possession of child pornography in 2007. He was sentenced to two years’ probation.
On Sept. 4, Pearson was arrested on suspicion of two counts of sexual misconduct with a minor after four members of the Richland Township Fire Department called the Indiana State Police with concerns that he was spending too much time alone with a 14-year-old girl.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Detective Paul Hansard of the Indiana State Police interviewed the girl and her mother before interviewing Pearson.
In the document, the girl alleged that Pearson sent her a nude photo of himself and sent her numerous sexually-charged text messages. The girl also alleged that Pearson fondled her on at least one occasion.
Also included in the probable cause affidavit, Pearson admitted to sending the nude photo and said he’d requested that she do the same. Pearson told Hansard that he fondled the girl on Aug. 22 and again on Aug. 29.
The girl, who was not a member of the fire department, turned 14 in June. The probable cause affidavit indicates that Pearson was aware of her age and celebrated the birthday with her by buying her a card and giving her $20.
On Monday, the fire chief explained why he allowed Pearson, a convicted felon, to serve as a Richland Township firefighter.
After speaking with the Center for Mental Health counselor treating Pearson as part of his court-ordered therapy and having regular conversations with Pearson’s probation officer, Frank said he felt confident that the “brotherhood” of the fire department could help Pearson. “What I thought was here’s an opportunity for the brotherhood of the fire department to gather around one of their own, to support him and help him focus on doing things that are right, essentially giving him a second chance. This was not something that was taken lightly when that decision was made.”
Frank said it initially appeared that the department was successful in helping Pearson rebound from the conviction. “I felt that as a department, we could surround him and help him move forward in a positive manner in his life. I believe we did that for over 22 months.”
Pearson resigned from the department as he was being arrested on Friday, Sept. 4, handing his fire department keys over to the arresting officer, Frank said.
After Pearson’s arrest, Frank held a meeting for the parents of cadets in the fire department. Richland Township has 10 firefighter cadets with ages ranging from 14 to 18 years.
Pearson had attempted to bring the alleged victim into the firefighter cadet program at the department but her application was rejected.
Richland Township Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Stigall oversees the cadet program and admits that he did not inform cadets’ parents about Pearson’s conviction for child pornography because he believed it was a confidential personnel matter and several safeguards were put in place to protect the cadets.
Pearson was not allowed to be alone in a room with a cadet, Frank said.
Frank acknowledged that some cadets learned of Pearson’s past through word-of-mouth but that it was not department policy to inform them of his conviction.
Tony Thompson, a member of the fire department and the parent of a 15-year-old female cadet, said he knew of Pearson’s history but felt confident that fire officials would protect his daughter. “I trust the people that she was going to be around,” Thompson said Monday. “But I’m glad he’s off the department now.”
Though he felt that his daughter was protected by senior members of the department, Thompson acknowledged on Monday that he believes Frank should have informed parents of Pearson’s history.
Jenny Schweitzer’s two sons have enrolled in the cadet program at Richland Township Fire Department and said she did not learn of Pearson’s prior child pornography conviction until he was arrested for sexual misconduct on Sept. 4.
Though she was not informed of Pearson’s record, Schweitzer said she did not feel betrayed by the fire chief. “Their judgment surpassed me. I’m OK with that.”
“Bryan would have never, nor Jeff [Stigall], nor any of those other firemen up there, would never put our children in jeopardy, and I believe that,” Schweitzer said.
Frank now regrets his decision to allow Pearson to return to the fire service. “I was asked by one of the cadet mothers would I make the decision again. The answer is no.”
The mistake, he said, will not be repeated. “If they have possession of child pornography, they will not be allowed on the department,” Frank said.
Richland Township Trustee Richard Cleaver said he backed Frank’s decision to allow Pearson onto the department and will not ask the chief to step down, even in the wake of Pearson’s arrest for alleged sexual misconduct. “I trust what he does.”
Cleaver is concerned about the effect Pearson’s most recent arrest will have on the township and the fire department. “He actually disgraced the whole township.”
“I don’t want to see it tore down by Scott’s stupidity,” Cleaver explained.
Frank said the reaction of firefighters on the department has been mixed. Some want to help Pearson. “There are others who would throw him out with the trash.”
“That’s something each individual has to decide,” Stigall said.
Though he says each firefighter will have to assess their own capacity for forgiveness and mercy, Frank said his decision to show compassion for Pearson after his child pornography conviction was a mistake. “Obviously, my level of forgiveness and grace and mercy has come back to bite me.”
Frank said none of the parents informed about Pearson’s arrest have pulled their child from the firefighter cadet program. Pearson’s 24 months of probation for his child pornography conviction would have been over at the end of September. On Monday, he was in the Madison County Jail since Sept. 4 in lieu of posting $20,000 bond.
Copyright 2009