DERRY, Pa. - An assistant scoutmaster who allegedly has an interest in sadomasochistic pornography was charged Tuesday with tying up and blindfolding three Boy Scouts during a camping trip he took alone with them last weekend.
State police accused John T. Levendosky, 52, of hanging the boys from trees by their bound hands and carving the letter ''T'' into their chests with a knife, telling them it stood for ''trust and training.''
Police said Levendosky did not sexually assault the boys - aged 11, 12, and 13 - but made them play several sadomasochistic games during their private overnight trip near Derry, 50 miles east of Pittsburgh.
Police said they raided his home and found sadomasochistic pornography. Levendosky ''admitted to having always been fascinated with bondage and servitude and stated that he just wanted to see how people react in these situations,'' the police report said.
Levendosky was charged with endangering the welfare of children, corruption of minors, unlawful restraint, reckless endangerment, simple assault and harassment. He remained jailed, unable to post a $25,000 cash bond.
Jack Waite, assistant scout executive at the local council of the Boy Scouts of America, said Levendosky has been suspended from his post. Waite would not discuss Levendosky's background.
Calls to Levendosky's house Tuesday were not answered.
