YNN.com

Albany / Schenectady / Troy

Change region

  71º

Updated 02/03/2012 03:39 PM

Boys and Girls Club director arraigned

By: Megan Cruz

The Director of Yates Village Boys and Girls Club has been arrested, accused of raping a young teen. Our Megan Cruz has more.

  To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.


SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- "I just grabbed my granddaughter and said, ‘hell no. You ain't getting her.’"

Doreen Pascarelli's six-year-old granddaughter used to hang out at the Yates Village Boys and Girls Club, until Pascarelli saw how the director, Ralph Moore, 66, interacted with the kids.

"Tickling, touching, holding them, putting them on his lap, hugging them. Too hands on for a man to be with a child," said Pascarelli.

That was back in 2006. She said she alerted the Boys and Girls Club, but nothing was done.

Now in 2012, police have arrested Moore for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl starting back in 2004, after the girl came forward.

"I knew it!" Pascarelli said.

But not everyone saw it coming.

Tasha Powell's seven- and nine-year old boys attended the Club. She came to Moore's arraignment Thursday to hear the allegations herself: Four counts of felony sex crimes and four counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

"He's a really good man from what I thought I knew. Obviously, I don't know and I didn't know. I feel like I'm the worst parent in the world because I let my kids go to this club," Powell said.

Executive Director Shane Bargy was as taken aback.

"He's never had, in 16 years, an allegation of a child coming forward like this. In 16 years," Bargy said.

Bargy says Moore's on unpaid leave and barred from all of their facilities until the investigation continues. They themselves are also launching an internal investigation. Police say there may be other victims.

Powell said, "I asked my boys if they were touched inappropriate. And I explained to them that he was arrested."