Former teacher, Scout leader listed in files

The current Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 91 in Harleysville said last week that he was not here in 1982, so he doesn’t have additional information about former Scoutmaster and Souderton Area High School teacher Carl Sieke.

Sieke, who was 36 when he was arrested in 1982 for charges of molesting young boys, was sentenced in 1984 to 3 and a half to 10 years in prison. He was one of those named in what have been dubbed the “perversion files” released last week.

He pleaded guilty to having engaged in sex acts with four pre-teen boys and testified there had been at least 20 boys involved over a period of 15 years, according to newspaper accounts from the time included in the files.

His Boy Scout connections began June 21, 1972, and ended in December of 1982, according to the file. He was also a physics teacher at Souderton Area High School, whose 14 years in that job ended with his resignation after being arrested.

“We’ve had no indications of his alleged proclivities and, frankly, it was quite a shock. As far as we knew, he was a rather nice young man,” William Maxwell, school superintendent at the time, was quoted as saying in one of the articles LQ WKH fiOHV.

DLDULHV FRQfiVFDWHG IURP the home during the investigation outlined sexual activities with young boys going back to 1975, Ed- ward Schneegas, a Montgomery County detective, said in one of the articles. Child pornography was also found in Sieke’s home, including some from which local victims of Sieke were LGHQWLfiHG, DFFRUGLQJ WR WKH articles.

“Schneegas said that everything the former teacher did involved young boys, as he was a Boy Scout leader, Big Brother and camp counselor. Sieke had the respect and trust of the community and youths of- ten visited his home to play video games, pingpong, camp out in his backyard or view the various reptiles and rodents he kept as pets. Some of the materials FRQfiVFDWHG IURP WKH KRPH show evidence of the use of the snakes in some of the encounters,” reads a portion of one of the articles.

Sieke, who had lived on Fourth Street in Souderton BRURuJK, WHVWLfiHG DW KLV sentencing that he moved to his parents’ home in Delaware County after his arrest.

“Sieke, a bachelor, testifiHG GuULQJ WKH VHQWHQFLQJ hearing that his problem began insidiously and went out of control before he knew what was happening,” according to one of the articles.

“I know there are people in Souderton who want to string me up. I don’t blame them a bit. I would probably think the same thing,” he was quoted as saying.

He was originally arrested when two boys, ages 8 and 9, reported the incidents. Charges involving WwR RWKHU ERyV LGHQWLfiHG through the pornography found at his home were later added.

7KH fiOHV QRw EHLQJ PDGH public are part of a widespread pattern that kept allegations of child molestation in the dark and shielded molesters, critics say.

The initial entry regarding Sieke in the Boy Scout fiOHV LV GDWHG DHF. 14, 1982, and includes newspaper reports on his arrest.

Without giving details, letters from Aug. 31 and Sept. 7 of 1983 appear to reference further allegations that were not prosecuted.

“It is my understanding, per the district executive serving the area, that no further action has been taken because the involved parents do not want their children to be subjected to the psychological stress that would occur,” reads a portion of the Aug. 31 letter.

“From what you have said, apparently the case has been dropped because of lack of testimony from individuals involved,” the Sept. 7 reply says.

Tim Hollinger, who is now Troop 91’s Scoutmaster, responded to an email request for more information on Sieke by saying he had none.

“I did not come to this particular area until early 2000,” Hollinger wrote.

He also said he did not know of others involved with the troop at that time to contact.

Souderton police Chief James Leary said the deSDUWPHQW’V fiOHV LQvROving the Sieke case would have been destroyed. In PRVW FDVHV, WKH fiOHV DUH GHstroyed after seven years, he said.