A Ceraland security volunteer was arrested on child molestation and other charges at the campground southeast of Columbus.
Larry L. Scott, 72, of Hope, who led night-time security as a volunteer for Ceraland, was arrested on preliminary charges of child molestation, child exploitation, vicarious sexual gratification, child solicitation, sexual battery and possession of paraphernalia, said Sgt. Jerry Goodin, Indiana State Police public information officer.
Ceraland is a nonprofit park, sports complex and campground located at 3989 S. County Road 525E, Columbus.
Scott was arrested Sunday after state troopers, called to the campground regarding a child molestation complaint, completed their preliminary investigation Saturday night, said Goodin, who added that the investigation is ongoing.
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Scott was described by Jim Kreutzjans, Ceraland executive director, as a retired law enforcement officer who had served as a volunteer with night-time security at Ceraland since April 1, 2017.
Ceraland has three security officers patrolling overnight at Ceraland, where the campground has 320 campsites, six cabins for camping and five rental pop-up campers, Kreutzjans said.
Scott stayed in a camper on one of the campsites while serving as a volunteer member of the security team, Kreutzjans said.
“We are shocked and saddened after receiving this news,” Kreutzjans said Monday, a day after being informed of the arrest. “We don’t have any more information at this time.”
Scott was also a Bartholomew County reserve sheriff’s deputy until he was removed from that role following his arrest, Sheriff Matt Myers announced Monday morning.
Myers said Scott had been affiliated with the Bartholomew County Sheriff Department since the early 1970s, serving as chief deputy for former Sheriff Jim McKinney, and serving as a reserve and special deputy under other sheriffs over the years.
Myers sent out a notification to Columbus, Bartholomew County and sheriff’s department personnel saying Scott is no longer serving in any capacity with the sheriff’s department and is to be treated as a civilian by all employees.
As reserve deputy, Scott would assist at special events, directing traffic or on special details for crowd control, Myers said. The sheriff said he had not received any complaints about Scott in his work as a reserve deputy.
“I’m sickened by this and saddened for the families affected by this,” Myers said. “We will cooperate with the state police investigation as it continues.”
The initial complaint about Scott was not made to the sheriff’s department, but was made directly to the Indiana State Police, Versailles post, Myers said.
Scott was incarcerated at the Bartholomew County Jail, and is being held in solitary away from other inmates for safety reasons, jail officials said. He was being without bond in the jail on a 48-hour hold requested by state police, Myers said.
Charging information is being prepared and is being forwarded to the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s office, Goodin said.
