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| The '''Franklin child prostitution ring allegations''' took place between 1988 and 1991 and involved an alleged ] serving prominent citizens of the ], as well as high-level U.S. politicians.<ref name="Jenkins">{{cite book|title=Moral Panic: Changing Concepts of the Child Molester in Modern America|pages=174–5|last=Jenkins|first=Philip|authorlink=Philip Jenkins|publisher=Yale University Press|year=2004|isbn=978-0-300-10963-4}}</ref> The allegations centered on Lawrence E. King, who ran the defunct Franklin Credit Union in Omaha, Nebraska. Although Lawrence E. King was not charged with a single count of child abuse by state and federal law enforcement, an alleged victim of King's, Paul Bonacci, and his attorney filed 16 civil lawsuits in a federal district court against people who Paul Bonacci accused of molesting him, including Lawrence E. King, or of covering up his molestations.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bryant|first1=Nick|title=Global Perspectives on Dissociative Disorders|date=2014|publisher=Routledge|location=711 Third Avenue, New York, NY|isbn=978-0-415-71807-3|pages=181|url=http://franklinscandal.com/Bryant_DID_Chapter.pdf|accessdate=June 9, 2014}}</ref> King was incarcerated for his financial crimes in a federal prison, and he did not contest Bonacci's allegations.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bryant|first1=Nick|title=Global Perspective on Dissociative Disorders|date=2014|publisher=Routledge|location=New York, NY|isbn=978-0-415-71807-3|pages=181|url=http://franklinscandal.com/Bryant_DID_Chapter.pdf}}</ref> Consequently U.S. District Court Judge Warren Urbom ultimately granted Bonacci a default judgement against in King in 1998.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bryant|first1=Nick|title=Global Perspectives on Dissociative Disorders|date=2014|publisher=Routledge|location=New York, NY|isbn=978-0-415-71807-3|pages=181|url=http://franklinscandal.com/Bryant_DID_Chapter.pdf}}</ref> Following Judge Urbom's default judgement against King, Bonacci's attorney requested a separate hearing on the issue of damages.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bryant|first1=Nick|title=Global Perspective on Dissociative Disorders|date=2014|publisher=Routledge|location=New York, NY|isbn=978-0-415-71807-3|pages=181|url=http://franklinscandal.com/Bryant_DID_Chapter.pdf|accessdate=June 9, 2014}}</ref> At the hearing, Paul Bonacci and other witnesses testified about the allegations that Judge Urbom had previously called "bizarre," and Urbom awarded Bonacci a $1 million judgement against King.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bryant|first1=Nick|title=Global Perspectives on Dissociative Disorders|date=2014|publisher=Routledge|location=New York, NY|isbn=978-0-415-71807-3|pages=181|url=http://franklinscandal.com/Bryant_DID_Chapter.pdf|accessdate=June 9, 2014}}</ref> Urbom's $1 million judgement addressed the alleged abuse Bonacci had suffered at the hands of King: "repeated sexual assaults, false imprisonments, infliction of extreme emotional distress..."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bryant|first1=Nick|title=Global Perspective on Dissociative Disorders|date=2014|publisher=Routledge|location=New York, NY|isbn=978-0-415-71807-3|pages=181|url=http://franklinscandal.com/Bryant_DID_Chapter.pdf}}</ref> | The '''Franklin child prostitution ring allegations''' took place between 1988 and 1991 and involved an alleged ] serving prominent citizens of the ], as well as high-level U.S. politicians.<ref name="Jenkins">{{cite book|title=Moral Panic: Changing Concepts of the Child Molester in Modern America|pages=174–5|last=Jenkins|first=Philip|authorlink=Philip Jenkins|publisher=Yale University Press|year=2004|isbn=978-0-300-10963-4}}</ref> The allegations centered on Lawrence E. King, who ran the defunct Franklin Credit Union in Omaha, Nebraska. Although Lawrence E. King was not charged with a single count of child abuse by state and federal law enforcement, an alleged victim of King's, Paul Bonacci, and his attorney filed 16 civil lawsuits in a federal district court against people who Paul Bonacci accused of molesting him, including Lawrence E. King, or of covering up his molestations.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bryant|first1=Nick|title=Global Perspectives on Dissociative Disorders|date=2014|publisher=Routledge|location=711 Third Avenue, New York, NY|isbn=978-0-415-71807-3|pages=181|url=http://franklinscandal.com/Bryant_DID_Chapter.pdf|accessdate=June 9, 2014}}</ref> King was incarcerated for his financial crimes in a federal prison, and he did not contest Bonacci's allegations.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bryant|first1=Nick|title=Global Perspective on Dissociative Disorders|date=2014|publisher=Routledge|location=New York, NY|isbn=978-0-415-71807-3|pages=181|url=http://franklinscandal.com/Bryant_DID_Chapter.pdf}}</ref> Consequently, U.S. District Court Judge Warren Urbom ultimately granted Bonacci a default judgement against in King in 1998.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bryant|first1=Nick|title=Global Perspectives on Dissociative Disorders|date=2014|publisher=Routledge|location=New York, NY|isbn=978-0-415-71807-3|pages=181|url=http://franklinscandal.com/Bryant_DID_Chapter.pdf}}</ref> Following Judge Urbom's default judgement against King, Bonacci's attorney requested a separate hearing on the issue of damages.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bryant|first1=Nick|title=Global Perspective on Dissociative Disorders|date=2014|publisher=Routledge|location=New York, NY|isbn=978-0-415-71807-3|pages=181|url=http://franklinscandal.com/Bryant_DID_Chapter.pdf|accessdate=June 9, 2014}}</ref> At the hearing, Paul Bonacci and other witnesses testified about the allegations that Judge Urbom had previously called "bizarre," and Urbom awarded Bonacci a $1 million judgement against King.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bryant|first1=Nick|title=Global Perspectives on Dissociative Disorders|date=2014|publisher=Routledge|location=New York, NY|isbn=978-0-415-71807-3|pages=181|url=http://franklinscandal.com/Bryant_DID_Chapter.pdf|accessdate=June 9, 2014}}</ref> Urbom's $1 million judgement addressed the alleged abuse Bonacci had suffered at the hands of King: "repeated sexual assaults, false imprisonments, infliction of extreme emotional distress..."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bryant|first1=Nick|title=Global Perspective on Dissociative Disorders|date=2014|publisher=Routledge|location=New York, NY|isbn=978-0-415-71807-3|pages=181|url=http://franklinscandal.com/Bryant_DID_Chapter.pdf}}</ref> | ||
| State Foster Care Review Board submitted the results of a two-year investigation into the physical and sexual abuse of foster children to the Executive Board of the ], who were investigating reports of child sexual abuse linked to the credit union. Authorities launched a probe, interviewing a number of claimed abuse victims who said that children in ] were flown to the U.S. East Coast and were abused at "bad parties."<ref name="Robbins1988b">{{cite news |last=Robbins |first=William |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/25/us/nebraska-inquiry-is-given-file-on-sex-abuse-of-foster-children.html |title=Nebraska Inquiry Is Given File on Sex Abuse of Foster Children |newspaper=The New York Times |date=December 25, 1988 |accessdate=May 18, 2012}}</ref> After investigation, a ] in ] (of which Omaha, Nebraska is the largest city and ]) determined the abuse allegations were baseless, describing them as a "carefully crafted hoax" and indicted two of the accusers on ] charges.<ref name="Robbins1990">{{cite news |last=Robbins |first=Williams |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE2D91630F93AA15754C0A966958260 |title=Omaha Grand Jury Sees Hoax in Lurid Tales |newspaper=The New York Times |date=July 29, 1990 |accessdate=May 13, 2011}}</ref> The grand jury also suggested that the abuse stories originated from a vindictive employee terminated by ], the famed refuge for troubled youths.<ref name="Robbins1990"/> Later, a ] concluded that the abuse allegations were unfounded and indicted 21-year-old Alisha Owen, an alleged victim, on eight counts of ]. The same grand jury also indicted multiple officers of the credit union, including King, for crimes related to the embezzlement of funds from the credit union.<ref name="Robbins1990"/><ref name="Lurid Tales">{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/27/us/omaha-tales-of-sexual-abuse-ruled-false.html?|title=Omaha Tales of Sexual Abuse Ruled False|agency=Associated Press |newspaper=The New York Times|date=September 27, 1990|accessdate=May 13, 2011}}</ref> Alisha Owen served 4-1/2 years in prison.<ref name="Convicted">{{cite news|newspaper=USA Today|date=August 9, 1991|page=6A|quote=Alisha Owen, convicted of lying to grand jury probing charges of sex and drug abuse in failure of Omaha credit union, was sentenced to 9 to 15 years in prison.}}</ref> | State Foster Care Review Board submitted the results of a two-year investigation into the physical and sexual abuse of foster children to the Executive Board of the ], who were investigating reports of child sexual abuse linked to the credit union. Authorities launched a probe, interviewing a number of claimed abuse victims who said that children in ] were flown to the U.S. East Coast and were abused at "bad parties."<ref name="Robbins1988b">{{cite news |last=Robbins |first=William |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/25/us/nebraska-inquiry-is-given-file-on-sex-abuse-of-foster-children.html |title=Nebraska Inquiry Is Given File on Sex Abuse of Foster Children |newspaper=The New York Times |date=December 25, 1988 |accessdate=May 18, 2012}}</ref> After investigation, a ] in ] (of which Omaha, Nebraska is the largest city and ]) determined the abuse allegations were baseless, describing them as a "carefully crafted hoax" and indicted two of the accusers on ] charges.<ref name="Robbins1990">{{cite news |last=Robbins |first=Williams |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE2D91630F93AA15754C0A966958260 |title=Omaha Grand Jury Sees Hoax in Lurid Tales |newspaper=The New York Times |date=July 29, 1990 |accessdate=May 13, 2011}}</ref> The grand jury also suggested that the abuse stories originated from a vindictive employee terminated by ], the famed refuge for troubled youths.<ref name="Robbins1990"/> Later, a ] concluded that the abuse allegations were unfounded and indicted 21-year-old Alisha Owen, an alleged victim, on eight counts of ]. The same grand jury also indicted multiple officers of the credit union, including King, for crimes related to the embezzlement of funds from the credit union.<ref name="Robbins1990"/><ref name="Lurid Tales">{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/27/us/omaha-tales-of-sexual-abuse-ruled-false.html?|title=Omaha Tales of Sexual Abuse Ruled False|agency=Associated Press |newspaper=The New York Times|date=September 27, 1990|accessdate=May 13, 2011}}</ref> Alisha Owen served 4-1/2 years in prison.<ref name="Convicted">{{cite news|newspaper=USA Today|date=August 9, 1991|page=6A|quote=Alisha Owen, convicted of lying to grand jury probing charges of sex and drug abuse in failure of Omaha credit union, was sentenced to 9 to 15 years in prison.}}</ref> | ||
Revision as of 18:57, 9 June 2014
The Franklin child prostitution ring allegations took place between 1988 and 1991 and involved an alleged child sex ring serving prominent citizens of the Nebraska Republican Party, as well as high-level U.S. politicians. The allegations centered on Lawrence E. King, who ran the defunct Franklin Credit Union in Omaha, Nebraska. Although Lawrence E. King was not charged with a single count of child abuse by state and federal law enforcement, an alleged victim of King's, Paul Bonacci, and his attorney filed 16 civil lawsuits in a federal district court against people who Paul Bonacci accused of molesting him, including Lawrence E. King, or of covering up his molestations. King was incarcerated for his financial crimes in a federal prison, and he did not contest Bonacci's allegations. Consequently, U.S. District Court Judge Warren Urbom ultimately granted Bonacci a default judgement against in King in 1998. Following Judge Urbom's default judgement against King, Bonacci's attorney requested a separate hearing on the issue of damages. At the hearing, Paul Bonacci and other witnesses testified about the allegations that Judge Urbom had previously called "bizarre," and Urbom awarded Bonacci a $1 million judgement against King. Urbom's $1 million judgement addressed the alleged abuse Bonacci had suffered at the hands of King: "repeated sexual assaults, false imprisonments, infliction of extreme emotional distress..."
State Foster Care Review Board submitted the results of a two-year investigation into the physical and sexual abuse of foster children to the Executive Board of the Nebraska Legislature, who were investigating reports of child sexual abuse linked to the credit union. Authorities launched a probe, interviewing a number of claimed abuse victims who said that children in foster care were flown to the U.S. East Coast and were abused at "bad parties." After investigation, a grand jury in Douglas County (of which Omaha, Nebraska is the largest city and county seat) determined the abuse allegations were baseless, describing them as a "carefully crafted hoax" and indicted two of the accusers on perjury charges. The grand jury also suggested that the abuse stories originated from a vindictive employee terminated by Boys Town, the famed refuge for troubled youths. Later, a federal grand jury concluded that the abuse allegations were unfounded and indicted 21-year-old Alisha Owen, an alleged victim, on eight counts of perjury. The same grand jury also indicted multiple officers of the credit union, including King, for crimes related to the embezzlement of funds from the credit union. Alisha Owen served 4-1/2 years in prison.
Historian Philip Jenkins explored how hot topics such as the Franklin allegations, whether or not they are worthy of attention or credible on their own merits, are seized by political opportunists for their own purposes. He also described how cases such as the Franklin allegations can acquire credibility, even if they lack any credibility inherently, when reported in various media in a credulous voice. Numerous conspiracy theories evolved and persist, claiming that the alleged abuse was part of a widespread series of crimes including devil worship, cannibalism, drug trafficking, CIA arms dealing and links with the first Bush Administration.
References
- ^ Jenkins, Philip (2004). Moral Panic: Changing Concepts of the Child Molester in Modern America. Yale University Press. pp. 174–5. ISBN 978-0-300-10963-4.
- Bryant, Nick (2014). Global Perspectives on Dissociative Disorders (PDF). 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY: Routledge. p. 181. ISBN 978-0-415-71807-3. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - Bryant, Nick (2014). Global Perspective on Dissociative Disorders (PDF). New York, NY: Routledge. p. 181. ISBN 978-0-415-71807-3.
- Bryant, Nick (2014). Global Perspectives on Dissociative Disorders (PDF). New York, NY: Routledge. p. 181. ISBN 978-0-415-71807-3.
- Bryant, Nick (2014). Global Perspective on Dissociative Disorders (PDF). New York, NY: Routledge. p. 181. ISBN 978-0-415-71807-3. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
- Bryant, Nick (2014). Global Perspectives on Dissociative Disorders (PDF). New York, NY: Routledge. p. 181. ISBN 978-0-415-71807-3. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
- Bryant, Nick (2014). Global Perspective on Dissociative Disorders (PDF). New York, NY: Routledge. p. 181. ISBN 978-0-415-71807-3.
- Robbins, William (December 25, 1988). "Nebraska Inquiry Is Given File on Sex Abuse of Foster Children". The New York Times. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
- ^ Robbins, Williams (July 29, 1990). "Omaha Grand Jury Sees Hoax in Lurid Tales". The New York Times. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
- "Omaha Tales of Sexual Abuse Ruled False". The New York Times. Associated Press. September 27, 1990. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
- USA Today. August 9, 1991. p. 6A.
Alisha Owen, convicted of lying to grand jury probing charges of sex and drug abuse in failure of Omaha credit union, was sentenced to 9 to 15 years in prison.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help)