Scout leader charged with abuse

PALMER — A Wasilla man whose wife said he was involved in Boy Scouts and providing day care at his church is facing charges for sexually abusing a minor.

Matthew Aaron Cross, 36, was arrested Jan. 9. In an affidavit filed in the case against him, Alaska State Troopers Investigator Toma Caldarea writes that the allegations came to light two days prior to Cross’ arrest.

A boy who is friends with Cross’ own children said he’d been watching a “Lego Ninjago” movie at Cross’ house two days before Christmas when Cross allegedly touched him under his pants and shorts, the affidavit says. The boy jumped up from the couch and went to a different seat. The boy told his brother, who told his mother who in turn called the police. He said his brother also had seen Cross behaving inappropriately with another child.

Caldarea talked to the boy’s brother, who said he’d seen Cross kissing a boy “like a man kisses his wife,” he writes. The kiss “seemed to last longer than appropriate.”

On Jan. 9, the boy’s parents agreed to call Cross and have the conversations secretly taped.

In one of those conversations, Caldarea wrote, Cross admitted to touching the boy’s “privates.” But his explanation made little sense. Caldarea quoted it directly:

“I noticed that he was playing with himself, like masturbating. I was, I did touch him. It seemed like an odd thing I didn’t, he was next to me. There is nothing worse than that; it was scary and weird enough. I think with him being close to me and him cuddling on me and this being like an expression of love I never would have imagined it like that, because it doesn’t make any sense to me.”

That was apparently all troopers needed to hear. Two hours after the conversation they went to Cross’ house and arrested him.

Cross was charged with a single count of sexual abuse of a minor for the incident with the boy watching the movie.

“Investigation continues and additional charges may follow,” Caldarea wrote. “Matthew Cross, according to his wife, has extensive contact with other children; (she) stated that Matthew Cross is the Scout Leader for the Boy Scouts and he runs the day care for his church.”

Cross was jailed at the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility. On Jan. 15, he posted $50,000 bail through a bondsman, according to court records.

Contact reporter Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.