Good Scout’s Troubles May Have Silver Lining : Rescue: Threat of fine from homeowners’ group over his CB radio use spurs offers of legal aid, money, moral support. The Explorer had aided six stranded boaters.

Offers of legal aid, money and moral support came in Wednesday for Richard Wright, the Explorer Scout who faces a possible fine from his homeowners’ association, supposedly for using a citizen’s band radio to help save six stranded boaters.

Melbourne Aitken, a retired teacher from Glendale who read a story about Wright’s situation in The Times, said he’s willing to pay the $150 fine against the 20-year-old Scout.

“I have compassion for this kid,” Aitken said. “I helped start an Explorer post with Glendale police some years back and I’ve worked with Explorers and that’s what really brought my attention to this thing.”

“I was a teacher and he just showed such a willingness to help someone else, that if he gets fined, I’m willing to pay the money,” Aitken added.

Wright received at least a dozen calls throughout the day, including other offers to pay the fine and calls from lawyers who want to represent him before the association board, which will decide next Wednesday whether to impose the fine.

On Dec. 28, Wright and two other CB radio operators heard a distress call from a boat five miles off Dana Point. Six people aboard the vessel, which had engine problems, were later rescued after Wright helped a Coast Guard helicopter locate the boat.

His action resulted in a commendation letter from a high-ranking Coast Guard official.

But Wright got in trouble with the homeowner’s association, which had been after him to stop using his CB in the 124-unit condo complex because other residents complained it caused interference with their cordless telephones and television reception.

Shortly after he helped save the boaters, he was notified about the fine. Wright claims he is being punished for using the CB in the rescue, but Ron Meixsell, president of Moulton Parkway Assn. No. 1, said the youth is being fined for radio use before the incident.

Meixsell said he has received two homeowner complaints against the youth related to television and telephone interference that allegedly occurred on Dec. 24 and 29. Wright denied he used his radio on those dates.

Meanwhile, as his notoriety increased, Wright has vowed to fight.

“I want to get an attorney and file a lawsuit,” he said. “I think they’re just harassing me and my family for what I did and all I did was help someone.”