Trending

Volunteer co-leader of Girl Scouts troop arrested on child porn charges

A Maryland man who was a co-leader of a Girl Scouts troop was arrested and charged with the possession of child pornography, The Evening Sun reported.

>> Read more trending news

Stacy Mizrahi, 45, of Ellicott City, faces four counts of possession of child pornography and one count of distribution of child pornography, according to a Maryland State Police report.

Maryland State Police began investigating in August, when their Computer Crimes Unit found child porn being distributed from a Maryland residence, WJZ reported. Authorities obtained a search warrant for Mizrahi's home, and a preliminary forensic review found multiple images and/or videos of child pornography on a computer, The Evening Sun reported.

Mizrahi was a volunteer co-leader for Girl Scouts Troop 715 in Howard County, Maryland, according to the Maryland State Police release.

In a statement, Violet M. Apple, the CEO of Girl Scouts of Central Maryland, said Mizrahi has been suspended from the troop.
"It is our No. 1 priority to ensure all GSCM members are safe," Apple said. "All GSCM employees and volunteers are required to pass a background check, and Mr. Mizrahi passed his when he registered as a troop leader.

“It is GSCM policy that male volunteers are not permitted to meet with girls without the presence of a female co-leader," Apple said. "Mr. Mizrahi served as a co-leader with an unrelated female and the troop was supported by four additional volunteers – all of whom passed background checks prior to registering as a volunteer.”

Police have not found any evidence at this time that any crimes have been committed involving the children he had contact with, The Evening Sun reported.