NM - Larry Franco/high-ranking parole officer, arrested for child *advertiser censored* "research"

Let's think about this for a moment. A "high-ranking" parole officer knows the law AND knows the penalties connected with viewing child *advertiser censored*. Wouldn't that person get full permission and oversight from the Tech Unit prior to downloading child *advertiser censored* for research? Wouldn't a parole officer who needed this information attend approved training sessions on the subject?

Research?? I don't think so.



http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/parole-officer-faces-child-*advertiser censored*-charges

Parole officer faces child *advertiser censored* charges

"On Thursday night, police charged a high-ranking parole officer after discovering child *advertiser censored* on his computer and a thumb drive. Farmington police said several law enforcement agencies raided the home of Larry Franco, 56, after a month long investigation. Police said the parole officer was in possession of child *advertiser censored* and charged him with two counts of child exploitation and tampering with evidence.

and

“...He said his intention of downloading the file was nothing more that to know what to look for on an offender's computer..."

and

"....Franco was the supervisor of probation and parole officers in Farmington and also worked in the special sex offenders unit. [Department of Corrections Spokesperson, Shannon] McReynolds said he doesn’t see how downloading illegal *advertiser censored* would have helped with those jobs...."


more at link

Hmmm. Officer Franco seems to have had some problems in the past. Let's see. Meth and sex. Could be that Officer Franco has been involved in child *advertiser censored* much longer than suspected. So Clark County didn't want him but readily admitted that he could pop up elsewhere as an LEO as they are "hesitant to give information of people"? This keeps our children safe how? NM did no background check? If so, the meth/sex angle was OK for a parole officer who moved up the ranks?

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/1997/aug/06/henderson-cop-resigns-after-drug-investigation/
August 6, 1997

Henderson [NV] cop resigns after drug investigation

"A Henderson Police sergeant has resigned after a year-long investigation of methamphetamine sales that led to his pleading guilty to a misdemeanor. Former patrol Sgt. Larry Franco, a 13-year veteran, was accused of assisting known drug dealers and providing them with undercover information that may have put some of his fellow officers' lives in jeopardy..."

and

"....I do not necessarily believe that Larry Franco was motivated by money or narcotics," Chief Deputy District Attorney Dan Bowman told the court. "I believe that it was probably friendship and possibly sex that motivated him...."

and

"....Bowman told the Henderson Justice Court that his "intent on going forward in this matter ... was to ensure that (Franco) not re-apply (as an officer) at least here in Clark County." After Franco's resignation, Bowman agreed to a guilty plea to the lesser charge. [Henderson Police Chief, Tommy] Burns said "there's no guarantee" that Franco won't be rehired as a cop somewhere. "That's up to the agency that hires the person and what kind of background check they do," he said. "Law enforcement officials are hesitant to give information on people because of the fear of being sued...."

more at link

It's outrageous that this man simply went to another state and got a job in LE!! I hope a thorough investigation is done as if he's looking at child *advertiser censored* now, there's bound to be a link to it back to the time he was trading info for sex.

http://www.daily-times.com/farmington-news/ci_18355534?source=rss

Details emerge in child *advertiser censored* case

"Mounting allegations of sexual misconduct are arising following the arrest of Larry Franco on possession of child *advertiser censored* charges. Franco, 56, the former supervisor of the adult probation and parole office in Farmington, was arrested June 9 after a month-long investigation conducted by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which uncovered that Franco had illegal images and videos of children, some as young as 6, on his computer..."

and

"...Franco also was in charge of the sex offender unit at the office...."

and

"...The recent charges, however, are not the first allegations of sexual misconduct levied against Franco. Past allegations include numerous complaints of sexual harassment against Franco while working in his capacity as supervisor in Farmington. There also are previous allegations that he engaged in sex with drug traffickers in exchange for helping them avoid capture..."

and

"...In addition to sexual harassment allegations in Farmington, Franco has a trail of sexual misconduct in the workplace. On July 23, 1997, Franco pleaded guilty under an Alford plea to a misdemeanor charge of violation by a police officer following allegations he assisted known drug dealers by providing them with undercover information in exchange for sex...."

and
"...the dopers, methamphetamine especially, in Henderson would call him and he would run the plates of the cars they were selling to...."Sex, it all had to do with sex..."

and

"...Franco's records in Henderson eventually were sealed..."

More at link

http://www.abqjournal.com/main/2011...-man-in-child-*advertiser censored*-case.html

Arraignment Scheduled for Farmington Man in Child *advertiser censored* Case
August 15, 2011

"A former New Mexico probation and parole supervisor is scheduled to have his arraignment and detention hearing Monday in Albuquerque in a child *advertiser censored* case. A federal grand jury last week indicted 56-year-old Larry Franco on six counts.

According to the indictment, Franco allegedly received child *advertiser censored* in April 2009 and January 2011 and possessed child *advertiser censored* between October 2007 and June 2011. At the time of the alleged offenses, Franco was the supervisor of the sex offender unit of the probation and parole division of the New Mexico Corrections Department in Farmington...."

more at link

Hello Missizzy

You are spot on the money with your commentary about Larry Franco.

If you go to watchdog New Mexico some of the unanswered questions you may have will be answered on the forums for you, though I gather you will have figured most of this out already.

Here is some of the basics; Larry Franco was empowered from within NMCD by Charlene Knipfing. Charlene Knipfing is the wife of Dick Knipfing who anchors KRQE TV.

Dick Knipfing has journalistic clout in New Mexico and the Politicians that continuously appoint his wife to prominent positions know it.

Charlene Knipfing has been known to use Internal Affairs to target the Whistle Blowers one of whom busted Larry Franco for Tampering with the Union's Computer in (get this) October 2007 !

A Prohibited Practice Complaint (PPC) was filed within the 6 month time frame allocated to file a PPC from the date of the initial incident; in this case October 2007. The PPC is a formal process the Union uses when Management has interfered with Union Business or retaliates against any Union member for exercising their Bargaining Unit rights.

The PPC referenced above was sustained along with a 30 day posting throughout NMCD’s bulletin boards. The ruling reads: "The Management of New Mexico Corrections Department acknowledges that there have been instances where there has been interference by PPO Supervisors into Internal Union Affairs. Most significant is the following incident that is admitted: A piece of AFSCME equipment was tampered with by a Supervisor in the Farmington area and a Data Reading device was removed from an AFSCME computer without the authorization of either the Local 2777 Union President or an AFSCME Representative".

That being said, I now have reason to believe that Mr. Franco was trying to lay the ground work for a set up in the making to silence and eliminate one of the few whistle blowers in the Farmington Office who was willing to stand up to him at a time when it wasn’t “the proper” thing to do.

To be continued ...

Welcome, nmcd-info. I just wish it didn't have to be under these circumstances. It really wasn't too hard to read between the lines. It was clear that something was very wrong with the picture. Sad to say but this story reminds me of the clergy and scouting debacles when the priests or scout leaders were just sent to a new church or troop.

Is there a news article outlining this info? We're not supposed to use the full names of people who are considered "uninvolved" (not charged with a crime) but we can link to news articles and direct attention to certain posts under articles, without copying them here. I'd like to follow this story as it plays out.

Thanks for the heads up about the forum and the complaint. It's good to keep checking back on the forums as much can be learned. They are far less moderated than we are and people seem to really put it all out there. We have to stay on our best behavior.

Welcome again!! I am so so hopeful that this man didn't go one step further and physically harm a child. The child *advertiser censored* is wicked enough.

I think this is the correct link for comments about Franco:

http://newmexico.watchdog.org/8755/balderas-picks-up-some-local-afscme-support/

If I lived in NM, I'd be calling my legislators for a full investigation about how this man was hired. Something very strange is going on. Another article about Franco:

http://www.lvrj.com/news/former-hen...d-*advertiser censored*-charge-128283033.html

Former Henderson police sergeant faces child *advertiser censored* charge
August 23, 2011

"A former Henderson police sergeant who resigned 14 years ago after being accused of helping drug dealers has been charged with possession of child *advertiser censored* in New Mexico. Larry Franco, 56, was a high-ranking parole officer at the New Mexico Department of Corrections until his resignation in June, when authorities charged him with child exploitation and tampering with evidence. The FBI has taken over the case...."

and

"...The then-Henderson officer made local headlines in 1997 when he was charged with being an accessory to methamphetamine sales, a felony. Franco resigned from the department and took a deal by pleading guilty to a misdemeanor for violation by a public officer. He received a $500 fine...."

and

"....After the Clark County case was settled, Franco said the charges ruined his career and told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that no police department in the country would hire him again. "I said, 'You might as well take me out and shoot me,' " he said. "I'm not going to be a cop anywhere....."

more at link (plus comments)

PART ONE:

Thank you for your postings on this topic. I can do one better than a news story article regarding the PPC that was sustained. I have a copy of the PPC ruling that NMCD management posted statewide on all of their bulletin boards.

Keep in mind the incident with Larry Franco tampering with the Union computer occurred in October 2007. The Union had 6 months to file what is known as a Prohibited Practice Complaint. In April 2008 the complaint was formally filed within the Union ranks. Two AFSCME Counsel Representatives filed and processed the complaint as requested to do so in an adamant manner by the Union President for Local 2777.

In May 2008, the Whistle Blower who made the complaint was then falsely accused of spray painting graffiti on the outside windows from the Farmington Probation Parole Office. No Police report was filed because Larry Franco refused to make the criminal complaint. I have the e-mail to verify that fact as well. Larry Franco then used his connections within the ranks of New Mexico’s Corrections Department to target the Whistle Blower who busted him tampering with the Union's Computer.

In June 2008 a ruling on the PPC in question was finally issued. The complaint was sustained and a 30 day posting was issued throughout NMCD's bulletin boards. No way to hide that fact either. The PPC adjudication that was witnessed by many, along with a copy of the posting, makes it impossible for Management to cover that one up.

Subsequently the Whistle Blower was suspended for the spray painting incident described above. There were no witnesses, no evidence, and no police report. The Whistle Blower was in fact innocent, but all it took was Larry Franco to make the accusation.

Recently another Union President went to the Media to blow the whistle on another Sexual Harassment matter involving yet another manager from the rank and file of NMCD’s corrupted regime. Subsequently he was terminated. As a show of solidarity, a petition with over 500 signatures was signed off on in his behalf and sent to the Governor’s Office.

Also, during the previous administration approximately 40 current and former employees employed with NMCD went to the Lieutenant Governor’s Office to voice their concerns, the results, or lack of, were obvious.

In essence, even with a well organized group effort to expose the corruption within the New Mexico Corrections Department, little if anything was done. Given those dynamics the message is clear; Whistle Blowing on NMCD’s Managerial rank and file could be very hazardous to one’s physical well being and or career, and still is. And never forget, as reported on KOAT channel 7 a State Auditor was threatened for investigating such corruption within the New Mexico Corrections Department.

Yes indeed something is very wrong here.

PART TWO:

As I stated, the Whistle blower was falsely accused of vandalism by Larry Franco, the same Larry Franco who was caught tampering with Union’s computer in October 2007, which emphasizes how dangerous Larry Franco is. The Whistle Blower was the only suspect who was singled out for the obvious reasons.

What makes this even more outrageous; if Larry Franco had not been caught tampering with the Union’s computer, he would have used that as a plant to make an even more serious false accusation. Ergo, trying to explain what would have likely been child *advertiser censored* on the computers data reading device would have been disastrous in more ways than one, as that would have also allowed Mr. Franco to continue in his pedophile ways unabated.

In short, the Whistle Blower was falsely accused of vandalism and was in fact innocent. Perhaps a way to expose what was going on in that Office would be to reopen that investigation regarding the spray painting incident. Once the true culprit or culprits are exposed, we would have yet another example, and further insight on how the corrupted ranks within New Mexico’s Corrections Department operate.

I have no doubt that many incidents involving Franco need to be re-examined. Yikes, that sounds rotten.

Thanks for the update and details. If you notice any news articles, please post the links.

PART THREE: Missizzy; "Hmmm. Officer Franco seems to have had some problems in the past. Let's see. Meth and sex. Could be that Officer Franco has been involved in child *advertiser censored* much longer than suspected. So Clark County didn't want him but readily admitted that he could pop up elsewhere as an LEO as they are "hesitant to give information of people"? This keeps our children safe how? NM did no background check? If so, the meth/sex angle was OK for a parole officer who moved up the ranks?"

My Response; NMCD did indeed do a background check on this clown Larry Franco, after a whistle blower who ended up having to file a sexual harassment complaint on Larry Franco; brought to NMCD's attention about Franco's past history with Nevada's Henderson Police Department. By the way, the Sexual Harassment complaint filed on Larry Franco was later sustained.

However in spite of the established sexual deviant behavior of Larry Franco while employed with NMCD; Management still had the audacity to clear Franco knowing full well about his history with the Henderson Nevada Police Department. Simply put, Investigators and Internal Affairs were in Management's pocket to target whomever they wanted, and why Franco got a free pass with a minor suspension in an unrelated incident during that same time period was telling towards the deal making that was going on.

In sum, Franco was an ex Union President who took on the roll of acting Supervisor also in charge of the Sex Offender Unit. Approximately three months after he gets suspended he then gets promoted to a full time Supervisor position. Along that same time period he gets caught tampering with the Union's computer. Still to this day, it is a chilling thought as to what might have happen if those who challenged Franco, and "The Status Quo" didn't catch him pulling the data reading device from the computer and then with much difficulty successfully followed up on it by taking action to the point where Franco admitted removing the data reading device in question.

One of the "hypocritical" cowards from Internal Affairs once questioned; how come there isn't anyone else "complaining about Franco" and his sidekick. This IA Investigator's accusatory line of questioning clearly contradicted the facts presented to him and as any good intention-ed investigator would have known, because the answer responding to his question was already presented to him in writing, and reiterated verbally without mincing any words; to paraphrase "you were given a list of names who also made complaints about Franco". This same IA investigator responds by implying that they are cowards because they all quit their jobs; referring to "all of the whistle-blowers" that were harassed into leaving their jobs, two of whom had sustained sexual complaints against Franco. So what does Super Sleuth do when Larry Franco gets's busted by the FBI in June 2011, almost three years to the date after the Union's complaint filed on Franco for tampering with the Union's computer was sustained in June 2008? He too resigns in hypocritical fashion, like the coward he is.

In conclusion; to answer and elaborate on the comments and on one of the great questions posed by blogger Missizzy "Could be that Officer Franco has been involved in child *advertiser censored* much longer than suspected"; Yes indeed he was, as Court records showed that Larry Franco had a history of engaging in 11 years of child *advertiser censored*, some of which was video viewing of sadist masochist pedophile behavior victimizing 3, 6 and 10 year old children kidnapped into a life of sex slavery, and that's why Franco will remain incarcerated in a Federal Prison until 2019, and will be on another 10 years of supervised parole.

To "Robin" and your "Ilk" wherever you ran to, or whatever position you hide behind, "the truth will always follow you" !

Regarding Larry Franco's friend and confidant; her loyalty to Larry Franco was based on lies and deceit. Her children sat on his lap and most everyone in the office knew it. How does that sit well with her now? As they grow older will she tell them the truth about Larry Franco? When she found out about Franco's past as a "Dirty Cop" did she buy more of his bull***** ? At that point she had to know the truth about Larry Franco.

Everyone knew the kind of man Larry Franco was, but as a paradox his so called kinder and gentler side played like a caring Uncle with his in office candy machine, giving candy to her children. Yet when Franco was targeting a co-worker, any co-worker, what did she do? As a convenient scapegoat she accused a co-worker (The Union President) of spreading rumors about her relationship with Larry Franco. She had the audacity in doing so, even knowing that everyone knew that Franco bought her an inappropriate gift on state time; the talk started from there. Yet previously, when another co-worker actually reported that incident, what happened? This co-worker also became a target and was falsely accused of spreading rumors about the two of them, which was a prelude of things to come, but like most everything else, the lies unraveled.

In Sandusky, like fashion, she was just one of many who enabled that SOB in addition to the Status Quo who tried to destroy the lives of many people (who were not all flawless), but nonetheless truthful and honest with themselves. In this present day; could the same be said about Franco's friend noted in this passage? "If" she is still willing to stay in denial, while having a history in placing her children in jeopardy with this man, her judgment on anyone else, at the very least, is hypocritical.

PS To the coward who vandalized the office window and let an innocent man take the blame; I know who you are and I can prove it. To Franco's friend; he still works along side of you. Poetic Justice.

Most anyone who "truly" challenged NMCD's Status Quo knows all about how Internal Affairs was used to target employees. Specifically there were four employees who IA was given the order to target; three of them Union Members and the later was another employee who fell from the good graces of Charlene Knipfing.


The Union in their infinite wisdom decided this non union member should have a Union position to protect him. The former Director of NMCD's Adult Prisons a friend of Rob (the Union's Rob) knows all about that. Just before he retired the former Director basically enlisted the Union's help to protect a non union member, a former friend of management. Meanwhile, the other three employees (proactive union members) where fed to the wolves, the same wolves that empowered Larry Franco.


So when someone is asking me how Larry Franco (The Dirty Cop/Pedophile) got away with all of his illegal and unethical activities while he was an NMCD employee; all you need to do is trace back to the beginning when Larry Franco was Union President then became Supervisor by being formerly related to the Knipfings through a marriage that later became annulled; see Knipfing versus Knipfing; CASE NUMBER D-1329-DM-200700425; FILING DATE 7/31/2007.

Did anything change with Larry Franco's arrest and subsequent plea deal on the child *advertiser censored* charges? Has the department continued on with the same corrupt leadership after such a horrific incident ? For the most part, yes. The real question being will the feds ever get interested in stopping the corruption at NMCD?

Larry Franco existed because of in house bought and paid for abusers of authority; Robin Casler who no longer works there and resigned 6 months later like the hypocritical coward he is when Franco got arrested.