Bickerstaff had long history with regional Boy Scout group

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Accused child sex offender Charles Bickerstaff spent more than 30 years in Scouting in Kansas, Germany and locally.

Up until last year, he was a senior district executive for the Blackhawk Area Council for the Boy Scouts of America, a paid position. He recruited volunteers, helped trained volunteers when they became den leaders or Scoutmasters and helped organize fundraisers.

While volunteers organize the jamborees and campout activities, Bickerstaff's day-to-day responsibilities would not have included activities with children, said Jim Pepper, who is the district chairman for Lee, Ogle and Whiteside County District of the Blackhawk Area Council Boy Scouts.

"I'm shocked and horrified by the prospect of this," Pepper said. "I don't want to believe it, I hope this is not true."

Bickerstaff was banned Friday from ever rejoining the Boy Scout program. The order came from Don Kinney, the Scout executive for the Blackhawk Area Council, who said he made the decision "as soon as I heard (of the charges)."

Bickerstaff, who Kinney said is not married, retired from the Scouts last April.

There had been no previous complaints against Bickerstaff, Kinney said.

Five years ago, the Scouts instituted a requirement that all adults go through background checks. Since Bickerstaff's service predated that, Kinney was not sure if Bickerstaff went through the check.

Bickerstaff also is a member of the Sterling Noon Rotary Club and has served as its president.

Club President Jerry Binder has known Bickerstaff eight years. Binder knows Bickerstaff mostly for his work with the club's student foreign exchange program.

He said he was shocked when he heard the accusations.

"From my experience knowing Chuck, he was always willing to help people and always willing to do good things," Binder said.

Bickerstaff grew up in a military family and later joined the Navy. His travel as the child of a military man and on his own include time spent in Missouri, Kansas, South Dakota and Germany.

Bickerstaff first became involved with the Scouts when he was 9, and said in a 2002 story in the Telegraph that he started his lifelong service to the Scouts when he was 13.

"I was invited to a campout," he said. "The first thing I knew, I was in uniform and in the Scouts."

Reach Joseph Bustos at (815) 625-3600 or (800) 798-4085, ext. 529.

Reach Joseph Bustos at (815) 284-2222 or (800) 798-4085, ext. 529.