2 men charged with improper sexual contact with kids

DOVER - Two men were indicted on felony charges last week after alleged improper sexual contacts with children.

State and local fire official John A. Metheny Sr., of Hartly, was charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child and six counts of second-degree unlawful sexual contact after a 17-year-old girl claimed she was groped between November 2016 and April 2017.

He was 72 years old at the time of arrest on June 7.

Dance instructor Alexander Boitsov, then 65, was arrested on June 28 after an alleged locker room incident with a 17-year-old boy in Dover on June 23.

A grand jury returned an indictment on second-degree unlawful sexual contact and endangering the welfare of a child counts.

The Delaware State Police began investigating Mr. Metheny on May 15 after a juvenile contacted Troop 3 in Camden and claimed sexual assaults had occurred several times, including some at the Hartly Volunteer Fire Company.

The girl told police she was supposedly touched on her breast and buttocks when alone with the suspect.

Mr. Metheny turned himself into the Delaware State Police to face charges. He waived a preliminary hearing on June 16 and the case was transferred to Kent County Superior Court.

Mr. Metheny was Hartly VFC vice president and Delaware Volunteer Firefighter's Association treasurer when arrested. He is no longer listed in those positions online.

He was also past president of the DVFA, Delaware State Fire Chief's Association and the Del-Mar-Va Volunteer Firemen's Association, and has instructed at the Delaware State Fire School since 1970.

The Hartly Volunteer Fire Company released a statement after police announced the arrest.

"The Hartly Volunteer Fire Company became aware that Mr. Metheny was charged by law enforcement of committing a felony on (Wednesday)," President Robert E. Quillen Jr. said.

"Following our established policy, he has been suspended awaiting the action of the court."

Police did not disclose why the girl spent time at the fire station and said only limited details would be released due to "the sensitivity of this case, and in consideration of the (alleged) victim."

Dover Police investigated allegations that Mr. Boitsov told a youth to undress at the Dance Conservatory at 522 Otis Drive and then contacted him sexually.

Authorities were notified by the boy and his parents on June 26, police said.

Mr. Boitsov, a Hockessin resident, was arrested without incident on June 28 at the Ellison School of Ballet in New York City. The U.S. Marshal's Fugitive Task Force took him into custody. He was later extradited to Delaware to face charges.

Staff writer Craig Anderson can be reached at 741-8296 or canderson@newszap.com.