Dennis Walter Schult

Case report

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This case has to do with events in the state of California in 1991 or earlier.

FLOODLIT is seeking more information about this case.

Even though Dennis Schult was reportedly excommunicated from the Mormon church prior to being charged with child sexual abuse, FLOODLIT’s sources indicate that child sex abuse was the primary reason for his excommunication in approximately 1981.

Despite his excommunication, Schult remained as a Webelos scout leader. Stake president Roger Steven Garrick of the Los Angeles Chatsworth stake said about this fact, that “someone clearly, relaxed,” according to a statement by BSA field director Chad Jay Holman in 1991.

Schult was placed on the BSA confidential files and was convicted for child molestation.

In the “perversion files” record on Schult, there is a “Confidential Report for Gene Richey – subject: Dennis Walter Schult” from BSA field director Chad Jay Holman dated Feb. 22, 1991. An excerpt reads:

“[On Feb. 21, 1991] I spoke with President Garrick of the Chatsworth Stake. He requested that our conversation be kept highly confidential. I assured him it would be handled in this manner.

“The following information, he related to me, was to the best of his knowledge:

“About 10 years ago there was an incident involving Dennis Schult. The L.D.S. Church Ward Leadership (Chatsworth 2nd Ward Unit Numbers 535) at the time, decided to remove Dennis from all leadership positions in the church and in the church sponsored Troop.

“The positions Mr. Schult may have held at the time were Young Men’s President and Scoutmaster. He was uncertain as to the exact positions Schult held.

“Around 1987 another problem occurred with Schult and he was completely excommunicated from the L.D.S. Church.

“To President Garrick’s knowledge, Schult had not been a leader in Scouting after the incident 10 years ago. He also thought the incidents for which the charges were brought occurred within the last several years. He also felt that Schult should never be allowed to register in the Boy Scouts again. This concluded our conversation.

“Then I checked the registration records for Pack, Troop, Team and Post 535. This is what I found:

“On the 1977-1978 Charter he was registered as a Scoutmaster in Troop 535.

“On the 1978-1979 Charter he started-out being registered as a Scoutmaster for Troop 535 but that was later crossed-out and changed to a member of the committee.

“On the 1979-1980 Pack Charter he was registered as a Cubmaster.

“I was then surprised to find him again on the 1984-1985 and 1985-1986 Pack Charter registered as a Webelos Leader.

“At no time was he registered in either the Post or Team.

“I called President Garrick back and shared with him the fact that Schult had been registered as a Webelos Leader in 1984 and
1985. His comment was that someone clearly, relaxed.

“He still thought the charges against Schult were for incidents that occurred from 1988-1990 after he was out of scouting. However, he felt the boys involved, Schult probably first met through contact in the L.D.S. Church Scouting Program.”