Mayor Denies Molesting Boys in '70s

Spokane, WA () -- Mayor James E. West, a Republican and well-known opponent of gay rights, was accused in a newspaper story by The Spokesman-Review Thursday of molesting two boys in the 70's and was caught red-handedly by the paper while he was soliciting a young man on Gay.com.

West categorically denied the molestation allegations, but admitted to having had "private relations with adult men." The Mayor was chatting online with what he thought was an 18-year-old man but what in fact was a computer expert hired by The Spokesman-Review. West offered the man autographed sports memorabilia and a possible City Hall internship during the chat.

"I am a law-abiding citizen," West said during a brief news conference. He took no questions.

West said he would not characterize himself as gay. As for his visits to the web site, he told the newspaper: "I can't tell you why I go there, to tell you the truth ... curiosity, confused, whatever, I don't know."

The Spokesman-Review also interviewed the two men who say West, a former troop leader, abused them while they were Boy Scouts decades ago. 

"I categorically deny allegations about incidents that supposedly occurred 24 years ago as alleged by two convicted felons and about which I have no knowledge," West said. Since the statute of limitations for any charges has run out, no criminal investigations are under way.

West has consistently opposed efforts to expand civil rights protections for gays and voted for the Defense of Marriage Act in 1998. During a 1990 hearing on AIDS education, West proposed that teen sex be criminalized.