Boy Scout leader charged with child porn

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL -- Members and scout leaders in the Gulf Stream chapter of Boy Scouts of America are sickened by the fact that one of their own has been arrested for child pornography.

76-year-old Bruce Garwood is not a scout master but according to leaders, he has been a scout volunteer for years, most recently acting as a leader of the scout's Hitchiti dance team- a team of young men who dress in Native-American attire and perform dances.

It was Garwood's responsibility to work with these young men, often scantily dressed- and judge their competitions.

Jupiter police say they have been working on an investigation involving Garwood since August 2009.

Garwood was a resident at the Jupiter Pavilion Convalescent Center- a rehab and nursing home- when he was initially seen looking at the pictures.

Garwood is physically handicapped and uses a wheelchair, although cops say he is mentally competent.

Reports show a family member visiting another resident at the center noticed Garwood observing some of the photos on his laptop computer and called police.

Police confiscated the computer and found 9 pictures in all.  Six were found to be pornographic and three were found to be child erotica.  

Jeff Issac- the director of the Gulf Coast Chapter of the scouts- says Garwood has been a volunteer with the scouts for years.

"I'm waiting for the detectives to give me more specifics because we don't know at this particular time if these kids are the Hitchiti dancers or even from the Gulf Stream Council.  We just don't know at this time."

While Garwood remains behind bars, authorities  are also working to find out who the young men are in the pictures- and if Garwood has ever taken  his addiction to young men further than just looking.

"We don't believe he has ever been left alone with any of the children," Issac said.  "We have never had any incidents of him harming children here."

NewsChannel 5 checked Garwood's record and no criminal history was found.

Garwood remains behind bars awaiting first appearance.