Former RI Boy Scout Leader Gets 40 Years For Sexual Assaults

EXETER, RI — A former Rhode Island Boy Scout leader was sentenced to serve 40 years in prison for nearly a dozen charges of sexual assault. James Glawson, 76, pleaded no contest to the charges in Superior Court.

In total, the Exeter man faced 11 counts of first-degree sexual assault related to the sexual assaults of six young men. Five happened during his time as a Boy Scout leader in the 1980s, and the last in 2019. After pleading to the charges, Glawson was sentenced to 60 years in prison; 40 to serve and 20 as probation. In addition, he was required to register as a sex offender, complete counseling, must be supervised and cannot have any contact with his victims.

"Every day, parents and guardians entrust the well-being of their children to others, to provide care and/or recreational opportunities," Attorney General Peter Neronha said. "When a person abuses that trust, and sexually assaults a child whose safety has been entrusted to them, we know the consequences – they are severe and long-lasting. The defendant’s criminal conduct here, over a long period of time and involving multiple sexual assaults against multiple victims, warrants the long sentence imposed by the court. I am thankful for the courage of the victims in coming forward and commend the outstanding work of the Rhode Island State Police in this case."

Glawson was first arrested in February 2019. The former Scout leader was also affiliated with the Catholic Church, serving as an assistant chaplain and Eucharistic minister at the St. Bosco chapel at the Yawgoog Boy Scout summer camp in Hopkinton from 2012 to 2018. Just a few months after his arrest, additional charges were filed against him.

According to Neronha's office, Rhode Island State Police began their investigation into Glawson in January 2019 after a group home employee reported inappropriate contact with an 18-year-old resident. The teen, who is developmentally disabled, later told police that he was repeatedly assaulted by Glawson over the course of years.

Glawson admitted to the assault, and said that he had also assaulted several boys while he was involved with the Boy Scouts in the 1980s. In total, five people came forward and said they were assaulted by Glawson as far back as 1981.

"The tragic facts of this case will forever impact the victims and their families," State Police Col. James M. Manni said. "I commend the partnership between the Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General and our detectives who worked tirelessly to ensure justice was served."