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HEBER CITY — A former counselor at an academy for troubled boys is facing criminal charges accusing him of providing pornographic magazines to residents.
Scott Michael Caldwell, 34, was charged Friday in 4th District Court with two counts of dealing in harmful materials to a minor, a third-degree felony.
On Jan. 13, Heber City police began investigating Caldwell, who at the time of the alleged incidents was a counselor at Daniel's Academy, 904 S. 300 West. In December of 2020, Caldwell was "playing around" with a pellet gun inside the facility when it went off and shot a boy in the leg, according to charging documents. Police say in an effort to keep the boy from telling others what had happened, Caldwell gave him a Playboy magazine.
Another boy at the academy, 17, found the magazine, and several more, and asked the first boy where he got them. Initially, the boy wouldn't say, but when Caldwell walked in the room, he confirmed that Caldwell had given him the magazines, the charges state.
"You gave him these?" the 17-year-old inquired, according to the charges. "He stated Scott confirmed it and stated he had many of them."
The teen then asked Caldwell if he could also have a Playboy magazine, and Caldwell gave him one, according to the charges.
That was just before Christmas in 2020, according to court documents. Another magazine was allegedly handed out in February 2021.
Daniel's Academy "provides a safe and therapeutic environment where young men overcome past failures and learn to thrive through meaningful relationships and coaching," according to their website. A call placed to the academy on Friday for comment was not immediately returned.
On Monday, after the former resident, now 18, told police what had happened and an officer called Caldwell, who now lives in Texas. Caldwell denied bringing an Airsoft gun to the academy while he worked there as well as handing out Playboy magazines, the charges state.
"Why would I even do that? They're underage kids," he told the officer, according to the charges.
Caldwell was then questioned about why he quit his job at the academy. He told police that some of the boys "didn't care for him because he was the one that got some of them in trouble because they overstep their bounds, He stated they thought he was the 'cool guy' but because of the bond he created with them, they would make questionable choices and he would have to discipline them for it," the charges say.
The case was reviewed by the Wasatch County Attorney's Office, which filed the criminal charges. A summons for Caldwell to appear in court was issued on Friday.
