Scott Dean
Ex-Commissioner Scott Dean didn’t spend much time in jail today after being charged with two counts of child molestation. He was booked around 5:30 a.m. and then appeared before a judge at 10 a.m. when they set his bond at $50,000. He has since been released.
Wearing jeans and a pink dress shirt with no tie, Dean appeared in court with wife Renee and was ordered to surrender his passport and stay away from anyone younger than 18 other than his sons. The judge also ordered him not to leave the area.
He’s accused of performing immoral and indecent acts with a child under the age of 16. The incidents allegedly occurred between September 1, 2008 and October 1, 2010.
In December, a police investigation of Dean was concluded and the sheriff’s office forwarded their findings to the District Attorney’s office.
In October, four of Dean’s five adopted children were taken from the home of Scott and Renee Dean by DFACS employees. A sheriff’s report said that DFACS had provided a report that the fifth, 17-year-old Lilly Dean, had run away and that “there were text messages alluding to inappropriate behavior in the household.”
The children were eventually allowed to return, but Mr. Dean was required to live somewhere else during the investigation. He lated said he was granted visitation during the holidays.
Lilly Dean was later found in Mexico. In November, she posted a Facebook message defending her father.
On Oct. 29, the commissioner released a statement blasting the rumors following the search for Lilly.
“Since that time allegations, insinuations and lies were leaked to the media. These leaks have caused irreparable harm to our family,” he stated. “My wife and I are outraged at the total lack of respect for our privacy. These accusations are completely false, and we will be totally vindicated.”
Columbia County voters re-elected Dean last year to the District 4 commission seat. He ran unopposed in the general election.
