Boy Scout leader arrested in child porn sting

MINEOLA (WABC) -- Prosecutors say 23 year old Edward Orenchuk admitted to having hundreds of child porn images on his computer at his home in Garden City where he lives with his father.

"I hope the judge just gets him out of here out of this neighborhood because we don't need people like this in this neighborhood because we got too many kids here," neighbor Tito Velazquez said.

What worries police is that Orenchuk was always around a lot of kids. He was working as a page at the Garden City Public Library and volunteering as an assistant scout master with a Boy Scout troop in Garden City.

The Boy Scouts of America didn't want to speak about the charges on camera but issued a statement to Eyewitness News:

"The behavior included in these allegations runs counter to everything for which the Boy Scouts of America stands. Our thoughts and prayers go out to anyone who may be a victim of this type of behavior"

In his written statement to police Orenchuk said, "I know what I did by downloading child porn was so, so wrong. I think I need professional help for this."

Orenchuk's family is now struggling to get him out of jail, trying to post the 400-thousand dollars bond ($100,000 cash) the judge set.

If they are able to get him out, neighbors don't want him back on their street.

"I've only been here a year, but I've seen a lot of small children so I just pray to God that he didn't compromise any of them you know," Denise Gordon said.

Orenchuk is charged with three counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child as a sexually motivated felony and three counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child. He is due back in court on December 17.

If convicted, Orenchuk faces up to seven years in prison.

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