A Sandy Scout leader faces charges of molesting six children - including two boys from his Scout troop.
Brandon M. Hillman, 23, faces two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, first-degree felonies, and four counts of sexual abuse of a child, second-degree felonies.The abuses reportedly occurred in the past year after Hillman moved to the Salt Lake area from Rexburg, Idaho, according to Sandy City Police Sgt. David Lundberg.
The victims are all boys between the ages of 6 and 12 years old, Lundberg said.
Prosecutors charged Hillman with a first degree felony in two of the incidents because they involved children from the Boy Scout troop where Hillman served as an assistant leader, Lundberg said. Utah law enhances sexual abuse of a child to a first-degree felony when the perpetrator commits the crime while working in a position of trust such as a teacher, police officer, counselor or Scout leader.
The four remaining victims reportedly lived near Hillman but were not affiliated with the Scouting program.
One boy told investigators the abuse occurred "multiple times and sometimes at the same time as the abuse to (his brother)," according to a 3rd Circuit Court complaint.
Hillman has no prior criminal record, Lundberg said.
Sandy police credited church and Scout leaders for assisting with the investigation.
"Officials from the local church and Scouting programs were very cooperative in working with investigators," Lundberg said.
Following a recent arraignment, Hillman was released and is being supervised by pretrial services while awaiting trial.