SALISBURY, Md. — Growing up in central Maryland, Mick Gillispie was eager to earn merit badges and move up the ranks in his local Boy Scout troop.

But as the teenager worked through the badges, an upsetting pattern emerged. No matter what new skills he needed to learn, his merit badge counselor always had a reason that Mick needed to take off his clothes.

Mick started picking merit badges that couldn’t possibly require him to undress: citizenship, communications, emergency preparedness.

It didn’t matter. His merit badge counselor always had an excuse.

Now 46, Gillispie can still smell the musty basement apartment where, at 15, he suddenly understood what was happening — the day he says his merit badge counselor, William H. Tross, groped him and tried to order him into the bedroom.

Gillispie earned the rank of Eagle Scout a few years later. He doesn’t talk much…