A Florida cop, who served as a Cub Scout leader, is on paid administrative leave after he was arrested for capital sexual battery of a child under 12 years old.
Astatula Police Sergeant Timothy Alan Palinski, 43, was arrested Wednesday after a boy reported to a school resource office he had been abused by Palinski since he was seven.
The most recent molestation occurred on April 6, according to an arrest affidavit.
Palinski took the victim to the bedroom and told him to get lubricant and pornographic materials from his gun safe, which also contained Palinski’s guns.
Palinski molested the boy and forced the victim to touch him.
The victim repeatedly objected and told Palinski he needed to stop the abuse. The boy told Sergeant Palinski he contemplated suicide using one of the guns from the safe.
Sergeant Palanski said he would stop, but continued the abuse.
After revealing the abuse to school officials, the boy shared details with authorities at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, including identifying marks and characteristics on Palinski’s body.
Palinski’s wife confirmed the details were accurate, according to Lake County deputies.
Deputies found pornography and lubricant beneath a false shelf in the gun safe when they executed a search warrant of Palinki’s residence.
“It was really bothering him emotionally and it got to the point where he needed to tell someone and he wanted it to stop,”Lake County Sheriff’s Lieutenant John Herrell said.
The victim, who is between 12 and 16, took a polygraph test. Deputies said he cried and was visibly shaken at times during the interview as he recalled the sexual abuse.
“This victim has proven to be strictly credible, and the detectives have found no reason whatsoever to doubt his testimony,” Lt. Herrell said. “In fact, everything he provided to detectives they were able to somehow verify.”
“It’s shocking and disappointing when you see a law enforcement officer breaking the very laws that they themselves are sworn to up hold.”
Sergeant Palinski served in the Boy Scouts as a Cub master for Pack 254 in Astatula. But the Boy Scouts said once they heard about Palinksi’s arrest, he was removed from any upcoming events.
During their search of his residence detectives found Cub Scout items.
Sheriff deputies said they’re still investigating to determine if Palinski had more than one victim.
“We would be interested in hearing from any parents whose children have spent time alone with him,” Herrell said.
In addition to capital battery of a child charges, Sergeant Palinski is charged with charged with lewd and lascivious battery of a child from 12 years old to under 16.
He is being held without bond at the Lake County Jail.
Astatula Police Chief Walter A. Hoagland said Palinski, who worked at his department for 17 years, has been placed on unpaid administrative leave.
According to his Facebook page, Timothy Palinski previously worked as a Correctional Officer at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
