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Boy Scout father pleads not guilty

01:00 AM EDT on Friday, August 8, 2008

By Brandie Jefferson

Projo.com staff writer

SOUTH KINGSTOWN — A Warwick father accused of showing pornographic videos to teenagers at a Boy Scout camp pleaded not guilty yesterday to three misdemeanor charges.

The Hopkinton police say Randolph V. Johnson, 44, who accompanied his son’s Boy Scout troop to Camp Yawgoog on July 14, also gave the boys alcohol and cigarettes.

He faces charges of procuring alcohol for a minor, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and selling cigarettes to a minor.

The police say a 16-year-old told them that Johnson invited him to watch the movie Beowulf on his computer. During the movie, Johnson allegedly switched to a pornographic movie identified by another witness as Wet Butts.

Johnson then showed a few minutes of My First Sex Teacher, according to the Hopkinton police.

One of the boys also told the police that Johnson offered him a Cape Codder, an alcoholic drink. Another camper told the police that he had some liquor with Johnson. The police say Johnson offered another Scout some cigarettes.

Four camp staffers — 15, 16, 18 and 22 years old — spoke with the police.

David Preston, spokesman for the group that operates the Hopkinton camp, said Johnson has been put on a national “ineligible volunteer list.”

Johnson has been free on personal recognizance. He has waived his right to a jury trial; his next court appearance is scheduled Aug. 21 in District Court, South Kingstown.

— With reports from Journal staff writer Donita Naylor

bjeffers@projo.com

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