US - CEO of Moose International accused of abuse

  • CEO of Moose Intl accused of abuse
  • Sex suit is filed vs. head of huge non-profit
  • International group claims a million members
  • And it “provides youth development programs”
  • Abuse victims want the accused to be suspended
  • SNAP will hand deliver letter at Moose lodge near Chicago

WHAT
At four news conferences, lawyers and clergy sex abuse victims will announce a new civil child sex abuse and cover up lawsuit just filed against the CEO of an international non-profit based in suburban Chicago.

Victims will also hand deliver a letter to the organization’s headquarters urging that the accused be suspended.

And they will beg others who saw, suspected, or suffered crimes by the accused to come forward, get help, call police, expose wrongdoing, protect kids and start healing.

WHEN
Thursday, December 13

WHERE AND TIME
At 1:00 p.m. at the SNAP office, 700 N Green St. (near the corner of Chicago and Halsted) in downtown Chicago

At 2:00 p.m. at the Moose Lodge in Aurora, IL at 83 N. Lincoln (corner of Lincoln and Spring st.)

Other events are in Columbus, OH and Charlotte, NC.

WHO
One of the victim's lawyers and representatives of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)

WHY
In a new lawsuit, the chief executive officer of a non-profit fraternal organization called Moose International is accused of grooming and then sexually abusing a then 12-year-old boy beginning in 1980. (There are roughly 2,000 Moose lodges in the United States, Canada, Bermuda and Great Britain, with a total membership of nearly one million.)

According to the alleged victim, Jason Peck of Fort Mill SC, William B. Airey used his positions within the Loyal Order of Moose in order to get close to him and molest him. The alleged crimes happened in the Columbus OH area and in New Orleans, LA on a trip.

According to the lawsuit, Moose International investigated Airey for child abuse in 1996 and again in 2007, but the results of their investigations are unclear and Airey was never disciplined. At the time of the abuse, Airey was a volunteer within Moose International. He became an employee of the organization in 1983 and has headed it since March 2006.

At 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, SNAP members will hand deliver a letter to Moose HQ in Aurora IL urging the organization's board to suspend the alleged predator from his current position.

SNAP leaders are praising the victim for coming forward.

“Jason deserves applause for coming forward and bringing his abuse to light,” said David Clohessy, SNAP Director. “It’s especially egregious when powerful men in institutions that purport to help kids actually hurt kids.”

The lawsuit, which was filed in the Franklin County Civil Court of Ohio, seeks unspecified damages. It charges Airey with sexual assault and battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The suit was filed Thursday morning in Franklin County Common Pleas Court in Columbus OH. A filed, stamped copy of it will be posted at SNAPnetwork.org

The victim says he was ‘groomed’ and spent time with Airey here: http://www.ohiomoose.com/lodgeinfo.asp?LodgeNumber=1245
Similar news conferences are being held today in Columbus (1:00 p.m.) and Charlotte NC (12:15 p.m.), where the victim lives. He is now in his 40s and is a doctor.

Moose International owns and operates Mooseheart Child City & School (255 W James J Davis Drive, Mooseheart, IL 60539), a residential facility providing education and home care for youths in need. It also provides sports activities and after school programs while supporting teens and children in need.

The victim is represented by Mason OH attorney Konrad Kircher (513-229-7996, [email protected]), Charlotte NC attorney Seth Langson (704-377-1504, [email protected]), Durham NC attorney Leto Copeley (919-240-4054, [email protected]) and Chicago IL attorney Marc Pearlman (312-261-4550, [email protected]).

CONTACT
Barbara Blaine 312 399 4747, [email protected], David Clohessy 314 566 9790, [email protected], Barbara Dorris 314 503 0003, [email protected]

SNAP Network is a GuideStar Gold Participant