Martin Palma Accused of Sexually Assaulting Teenage Boys

A scout leader, who is also a teacher of Forest Home, Toledo, is in big trouble tonight. He is Martin Palma, who went on a rampage sexually assaulting three teenagers and offering them a thousand dollars each for their silence. Palma is also accused of being intoxicated. In the first allegation, a seventeen year old scout and student from the San Jose Village was assaulted. He complains that Palma, who was reeking with the smell of alcohol, followed him when he took a short cut from the village of Santa Cruz to San Jose. According to the seventeen year old young man Palma placed his hands on his neck and touched his lips and cheeks saying he was rich and would give him a thousand dollars to be quiet. That happened at about four p.m. on October thirty-first.  The scouts were camping at the Santa Cruz Community Center and that is where the other two incidents occurred. Another teenager is alleging that Palma sexually abused him on the same day and at the same place. This time, the allegation is that Palma struck at about eight o’clock. The young man woke up to find the teacher touching him on the chest and loosening his belt. Palma made a similar offer of one thousand dollars to keep the incident under wraps. There is a third case involving another sixteen year old boy also from the village of San Jose. He reported to the police that just before six o’clock in the evening, he went to the community center for the camping activity where he met Palma. According to the teenager, Palma gave him an alcoholic beverage and he fell asleep. The young man also claims that hours later at about ten o’clock, he woke up to find Palma touching his chest and private parts. The scout leader also promised him a thousand dollars not to report the incident, but the teenager obviously did. Palma was picked up by police and charged with three counts of sexual assault. This afternoon, the Scout Association issued a statement condemning the involvement of any scout leader in sexual abuse; the Association also reaffirms its commitment in combating sexual abuse in and outside of scouting and denounces any other form of abuse on our children.