DuPage Scout leader charged with sex assault

A Boy Scout leader from DuPage County has been charged with sexually assaulting a youth at camp in Wisconsin, authorities said Friday.

Jeffrey L. Borneman, 54, of the 22W000 block of Stratford Court in an unincorporated area near Glen Ellyn, was charged this week in Marquette County, Wisconsin with one count of sexual assault of a child under 16.

Authorities said Borneman is a Scout leader who was accompanying a local troop to Camp Freeland Leslie in Oxford, Wis., located about 20 miles northeast of Wisconsin Dells.

According to a criminal complaint, a 13-year-old Scout told investigators he went to bed early during the evening of July 5 because he had a migraine. He was in his tent sleeping when he awoke to Borneman wiping him down with baby wipes and putting a cold compress behind his neck.

The victim fell back to sleep, but later awoke to find Borneman performing a sex act on him, according to the complaint.

Borneman told a Marquette County sheriff’s detective he had the victim remove his shorts because he was “burning up,” but denied performing the sex act on him.

A DNA sample taken from Borneman matched a sample taken from the victim, authorities said.

The Boy Scout camp is operated by the St. Charles-based Three Rivers Council.

Matthew Ackerman, the council’s Scout Executive, said upon learning of the allegations, officials immediately removed Borneman from Scouting, and he has been permanently banned from participating in future programs.

“The abuse of anyone, especially a child, is intolerable and our thoughts and prayers go out to those who may be a victim of this type of reprehensible behavior,” Ackerman said in a statement. “The behavior included in these allegations runs counter to everything for which the Boy Scouts of America stands.”

Borneman was released on bond this week. If convicted, he faces up to 40 years in prison.

He could not be reached for comment Friday.