Former Scout Leader, Religion Teacher, Admits Possessing Child Porn

By Tom Haydon
NJ.com
October 23, 2015

http://www.nj.com/union/index.ssf/2015/10/former_scout_leader_religion_teacher_admits_posses.html

Former Boy Scout leader and religion instructor admitted in federal court today that he sexual abused children and possessed images of child sexual abuse. (Linden Police Department photo)

From all appearances, Gregory Aker was solid member of his community, an assistant scoutmaster with the Boy Scouts in Clark and a volunteer religion teachers at a Linden church.

All that changed in February 2014 when Linden police responded to a domestic complaint between Aker and his wife, and then arrested the husband on charges of sexually assaulting two minors. That was followed by federal authorities searching the home and finding 600 images and dozens of videos of child sexual abuse, authorities said.

Today Aker appeared in U.S. District Court in Newark and admitted sexually abusing children and possessing images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said in a statement.

Aker, now 46, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Susan D. Wigenton to a charge of possession of child pornography.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Aker will also be required to register as a sex offender when he is sentenced on Feb. 23, 2016, Fishman said.

Linden police also charged Aker with two counts each of sexual assault, criminal sexual contact and endangering the welfare of a minor. Those charges are still pending in court, and Aker remains in jail awaiting trial.

Linden police have not released any details about the charges or the domestic violence incident.

Aker had been an assistant scoutmaster for the Clark Knights of Columbus Troop 310, and had also been a Cub Scouts Den leader and a district vice chairman and chairman, according to a newsletter from the Boy Scouts Munsee District serving eastern Union County.

He had also been a religion instructor at St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Church in Linden up until last year, a spokesman for the Dioceses of Newark confirmed.

An official with the Boy Scouts said Aker was dismissed from the scouts as soon as the organization was informed of the charges filed by police.