Arlington man accused after child sex sting was a Scout leader

An American Airlines manager from Arlington accused in Pennsylvania of trying to arrange to have sex with a 10-year-old girl was a Boy Scout troop leader, authorities confirmed Wednesday.

Ray W. Howland, 55, was arrested near Pittsburgh after he tried to arrange a sexual encounter with a mother and her 10-year-old daughter, according to a criminal complaint obtained by the Star-Telegram. He was actually communicating online with a Pennsylvania child predator investigator.

Scout Executive John Coyle of the Longhorn Council of the Boy Scouts of America confirmed that Howland was a troop leader in Arlington but declined to provide specific information, saying the organization doesn’t share information about current and former members, leaders and employees.

“Let me start by saying that the behavior included in these allegations is abhorrent, unacceptable, and runs counter to everything for which the Boy Scouts of America stands,” Coyle wrote in an email. “At this time, while these allegations appear to be unrelated to scouting, we have removed this individual from scouting and precluded him from any further participation in the program.”

The Scouts require at least two adults to be present at all outings so “no one-on-one contact is permitted outside of view of other adults and youth.”

It was unclear if Howland remained in the Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh Wednesday night. His bail was set at $150,000.

He faces charges of criminal attempt to commit rape of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, unlawful contact with a minor, criminal attempt to commit indecent assault and criminal use of a communication facility.

This contains information from Star-Telegram archives.

This story was originally published July 1, 2015 at 10:25 PM with the headline "Arlington man accused after child sex sting was a Scout leader."