SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. -- A Spotsylvania Girl Scout leader arrested for taking indecent liberties with a child and numerous child porn charges was released from jail. Investigators said Chad Miller, age 47, worked with his wife to lead the Girl Scout troop. Miller was recently indicted by a grand jury and was charged with 30 felony counts of possessing child pornography and one count of taking indecent liberties with a child under 18 while under his supervision.
The investigation began after Miller allegedly sent a 14-year-old Girl Scout a link to a pornographic website, investigators sad. Miller, a family friend of that victim, is also a person of interest in a similar investigation in Fairfax, they added.
"She knew the actions of Miller were inappropriate and she was uncomfortable," said Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office Capt. Jeffrey Pearce. "She did stand up and brought it to her parents."
He explained that the sheriff’s office got a call back in December from the alleged victim’s parents.
A search warrant was executed at Miller's Wellington Street home. Detectives took Miller's cell phones and computers.
“We discovered computer generated photos, child porn and several other items of evidence and it led us to conclude he had an inappropriate relationship with at least this one victim," Pearce said.
Investigators are still trying to determine if any sex crimes took place inside of Miller’s home in the Cambridge subdivision. His neighbors were hit hard by the news, and said they had no idea.
“This is a nice neighborhood and I didn’t hear about a raid or anything,” Michael Cooke said.
Detectives are now investigating if there are more alleged victims.
“Anyone who had contact with Miller, talk to your children,” Pearce said. “Check their phones, check their emails.”
"We want children to know if they do have something to report, they are not in trouble,” Pearce continued. “We want to hear from them. We just want to help.”
Miller was granted $10,000 bond and returns to Spotsylvania Circuit Court at 9 a.m. on April 28. As a condition of his bond, a judge has stipulated that Miller must not leave the Commonwealth and not interact with anyone under the age of 18, including his own children.
He’s also prohibited from having any contact with the alleged victim and her family.
Martha Allen, spokesperson for the Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of Virginia said they have stringent security and background checks.
The full statement sent to WTVR CBS 6 News is posted below:
With the unfortunate news about a former Girl Scout leader in Spotsylvania County, we want to clarify Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of Virginia's position on the issue of safety for our girls while engaged in Girl Scout activities and reassure the public of the stringent protocols in place to ensure the utmost safety for Girl Scouts.
All volunteers who work directly with girls undergo a thorough and rigorous background screening process to determine a volunteer's eligibility. In addition, the national guidelines of Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA), require that girls are led by a minimum of two troop leaders at all times who are not related by birth or marriage to avoid situations that may put girls at risk.
We are committed to the continued safety of the girls within our movement and request any questions regarding Girl Scout safety be sent to Martha Allen, Chief Information Officer, mallen@comgirlscouts.org.”
In addition, Allen provided this statement from the Girl Scouts of the USA:
Girl Scouts of the USA is aware of allegations affecting a Girl Scout council in Virginia. Nothing is more important within Girl Scouts than ensuring the health and safety of girls. We will be monitoring this situation closely and fully cooperating with authorities. Thank you for your continued support of Girl Scouts.
A court document showed Miller is residing at a motel on Jefferson Davis Highway. No one answered the door at the motel room Tuesday afternoon.
