Case against former Boy Scout leader accused of child molestation could be dismissed

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Fleet Peeples Jr. has been ruled not competent to stand trial.

During a hearing Friday, a judge made it clear that Peeples Jr. could not be kept in legal limbo forever.

Peeples Jr. was arrested on child pornography and molestation, and charged in February 2014.

He has been living at home as the case has stagnated due to his mental state.

A former Boy Scout leader, the 78-year-old was found to have pornographic images of children and admitted to molesting about a dozen boys during camping trips, investigators said.

The allegations date back to at least 1980, police said.

A popular park in Winter Park was named after Peeples’ father until July 2014 when the city changed it.

Around that time, several women came forward accusing Peeples Sr. of molestation when they were children, decades prior. Peeples Sr. was a legendary swim instructor with the city. He died more than 20 years ago.

As for Peeples Jr., another competency report is due to the court in March, and if he is found to be unable to go to trial again, the case may be dropped, Florida State Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Angela Starke said.

“Yes, we could have to drop the case,” she said. “There is just too much case law on that.”

The defendant has to be declared incompetent for at least five years, but if he's ever found incompetent after that, the state can refile charges.

WFTV