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Summer camp named in child abuse case
Published October 10, 2009
Camp Stewart for Boys in Hunt has been identified as the place where a man accused of molesting three young campers worked as a counselor this past summer.
Scott Ash James Zirus, 25, of Pinjarra, Australia, was arrested Wednesday afternoon while attempting to board a plane at the San Antonio airport, according to the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office.
Zirus was returned to Kerr County, where he faces felony charges stemming from incidents involving three boys that reportedly occurred at the camp in July.
He is accused of molesting two of the boys, ages 7 and 6, in one incident, and another 7-year-old on a separate occasion.
He was working in the U.S. as part of an international student exchange program.
A Camp Stewart official said this marked the first year Zirus worked there.
Camp’s response
Jeeper Ragsdale, one of the camp’s owners, said background and reference checks are conducted on each staff member, and those from outside the U.S. also undergo checks prior to obtaining work visas.
Camp employees also undergo “an extensive training session” provided by a licensed facilitator on the topic of sexual, emotional and physical abuse during their orientation as required by law.
“We’ve been doing that for years, long before the law (was enacted),” Ragsdale said.
He noted workers also are tested on the camp’s policies and procedures and sign an affidavit confirming they will adhere to the
guidelines.
Furthermore, the staff meets with campers on their first night at the facility and during weekly group meetings — away from the youth counselors — to provide them an opportunity to share any concerns on anything that might be making them uncomfortable, Ragsdale said.
None of the children reportedly made an outcry during the camp session.
Ragsdale also said there have been no similar cases in the camp’s past.
Regarding the future, camp officials are reviewing the situation to see if other preventative measures could be put in place.
“We’re looking at everything to see what we could have done to have prevented it,” Ragsdale said. “The case and safety of all of our children is our top priority, and we constantly strive to provide the best staff possible. We have very stringent rules in place to protect each and every child.”
He noted the staff ratio per child is 1 to 3.
“We are just very distressed about it (the situation). We’re pleased with the way law enforcement handled it. They picked this guy up before he was able to do anything else,” Ragsdale said. “We are so glad one of the children came forward and said something, so it’s not going to happen to anyone else. It shows how we need to talk more to our children.”
Since the allegations were made, Camp Stewart officials have been in contact with the children’s
families.
E-mailed messages also were sent to the parents of other campers alerting them to the situation.
“When the initial allegations were made, we indicated it to all of our camp families immediately and kept them updated,” he said.
He also acknowledged the youths involved in the case are from outside Kerr County.
About the case
According to sheriff’s investigator Capt. Carol Twiss, Zirus did undergo a background check, which yielded no criminal history.
Authorities first learned about the alleged crimes after one of the boys made an outcry to his parents, who then alerted law enforcement.
Information culled during the ensuing investigation led to Zirus’ also being charged with incidents involving the other two children.
None of the boys had physical injuries that required medical attention; however, counseling will be provided through Crime Victims Compensation if requested.
Regarding Zirus, Twiss said if he actually had departed the country, his arrest would have been more difficult and would have hinged on the extradition treaty Australia has with the U.S.
She also said it’s fairly uncommon for the sheriff’s office to receive complaints involving foreign nationals, except for residents of Mexico.
Additionally, such crimes at local summer camps are rare, she said.
One reason is because the camp counselors undergo background checks.
Authorities alerted the camp of the investigation and parents of children who came into contact with the suspect have been notified, Twiss said.
Zirus is being held in the Kerr County Jail on multiple felony charges, including one count of indecency with a child, sexual contact; one count of sex abuse of a child, continuous victim under 14 years of age; and two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child.
If convicted, he could face a sentence of five years to life.
Arraignment dates are set for Nov. 2 and 5.
Camp Stewart, established in 1924, is touted as the oldest continually operated private camp in the southwestern U.S., according to its Web site. The camp is open to boys, ages 6 to 16.
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