Robert Alan Mark, 59, of Whitehall, Michigan, was sentenced on July 29 to 208 months in prison for sexual exploitation of a minor. U.S. District Judge Jane M. Beckering delivered the sentence in Grand Rapids and ordered that Mark spend seven years on supervised release following his imprisonment and register as a sex offender.
Mark served for years as a leader in Boy Scouts, now known as Scouting America. When the organization began admitting female members, he also led female scouts. According to investigators, Mark hosted pool parties at his home and encouraged girls to use his bathroom to shower and change. Over ten years, he used hidden cameras to record minor females undressed or using the bathroom. Authorities recovered videos showing at least eight girls under age 18 were recorded in various locations including a bathroom, bedroom, and tent.
U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey said he was satisfied with the outcome: “Mark richly deserved the sentence he got from Judge Beckering. Anyone who sexually exploits children deserves a decisive response from the criminal justice system, and he got it here. But what really got our attention was that Mark used Scouting America to get access to them. Now more than ever, our communities need organizations like Scouting America to help our kids learn the best traditional American values, and that means we will do whatever is necessary to keep deviants like Mark far away.”
Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, said: “Scout leaders are trusted to protect our children, not exploit them. This sentence reflects the depravity of his conduct and makes clear that those who victimize our children will be held fully accountable… I commend the outstanding work of the FBI Grand Rapids WEBCHEX Task Force and the Michigan State Police for their diligent efforts throughout this investigation. FBI Detroit will continue working alongside our law enforcement partners to pursue those who prey on children and ensure they are brought to justice.”
A spokesperson for Michigan State Police added: “Protecting children from exploitation is one of our highest priorities. This sentence reflects the serious and lasting harm these crimes inflict on victims, and we remain committed to working alongside our federal, state, and local partners to identify offenders, hold them accountable, and safeguard our communities.” The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Michigan State Police investigated this case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006—to combat child sexual exploitation through coordination among federal prosecutors’ offices including those staffed by about 70 prosecutors within one of America’s longest-standing federal law enforcement districts, according to information from the official website.