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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 also claimed that the alleged sex ring was led by, "a cult of devil worshipers involved in the mutilation, sacrifice and cannibalism of numerous children."<ref name="Jenkins"/> | 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 also claimed that the alleged sex ring was led by, "a cult of devil worshipers involved in the mutilation, sacrifice and cannibalism of numerous children."<ref name="Jenkins"/> 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> | ||
| The allegations centered on the actions of Lawrence E. King Jr., who ran the now defunct Franklin Community Federal Credit Union (FCFCU) in Omaha.<ref name="Robbins1988a"/> After investigation, a ] (the county seat for Omaha, Nebraska) ] determined the abuse allegations were baseless, describing them as a "carefully crafted hoax" and indicted two of the accusers on ] |
The allegations centered on the actions of Lawrence E. King Jr., who ran the now defunct Franklin Community Federal Credit Union (FCFCU) in Omaha.<ref name="Robbins1988a">{{cite news |newspaper=The New York Times |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/18/us/a-lurid-mysterious-scandal-begins-taking-shape-in-omaha.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm |title=A Lurid, Mysterious Scandal Begins Taking Shape in Omaha |last=Robbins |first=William |date=December 18, 1988 |accessdate=April 30, 2013}}</ref> After investigation, a ] (the county seat for Omaha, Nebraska) ] 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 fraud and other crimes.<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> | ||
| ⚫ | Historian ] 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.<ref name="Jenkins"/> Numerous ] evolved and persist, claiming that the alleged abuse was part of a widespread series of crimes including devil worship, cannibalism, drug trafficking, ] arms dealing and links with the ].<ref name="Jenkins"/> | ||
| ==The two grand juries== | |||
| Allegations of sexual abuse first emerged in November 1988 during a ] investigation of unrelated financial irregularities at the FCFCU, at which King had worked for 18 years.<ref name="Robbins1988a">{{cite news |newspaper=The New York Times |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/18/us/a-lurid-mysterious-scandal-begins-taking-shape-in-omaha.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm |title=A Lurid, Mysterious Scandal Begins Taking Shape in Omaha |last=Robbins |first=William |date=December 18, 1988 |accessdate=April 30, 2013}}</ref> In December, the 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> | |||
| Two ] investigated the allegations. The first, a county grand jury, determined that the abuse allegations were a "carefully crafted hoax"; 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"/> A special Nebraska legislative committee assigned to investigate the allegations criticized the grand jury findings, with Nebraska Senator Loran Schmit labeling the grand jury's report "a strange document."<ref name="Robbins1990"/> | |||
| The second, organized through the federal judicial system, later 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 fraud and other crimes.<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><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>Owen was convicted and sentenced to 9–15 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> | |||
| ==Aftermath== | |||
| ⚫ | Numerous ] evolved and persist, claiming that the alleged abuse was part of a widespread series of crimes including devil worship, cannibalism, drug trafficking, ] arms dealing and links with the ].<ref name="Jenkins" |
||
| Journalist Nick Bryant published a book about the Franklin allegations alleging a coverup of child abuse.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Franklin Scandal: A Story of Powerbrokers, Child Abuse & Betrayal |last=Bryant |first=Nick |publisher=Trine Day|isbn=978-1936296071}}</ref><ref group="notes">Bryant's book, after being rejected by several larger and more reputable publishing houses,{{fact|date=November 2013}} was published by ]. </ref> Historian ], in his book ''Moral Panic: Changing Concepts of the Child Molester in Modern America,'' has 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.<ref name="Jenkins" /> | |||
| ==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
Revision as of 19:05, 23 November 2013
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 also claimed that the alleged sex ring was led by, "a cult of devil worshipers involved in the mutilation, sacrifice and cannibalism of numerous children." 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."
The allegations centered on the actions of Lawrence E. King Jr., who ran the now defunct Franklin Community Federal Credit Union (FCFCU) in Omaha. After investigation, a Douglas County (the county seat for Omaha, Nebraska) grand jury 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 fraud and other crimes. 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.
Notes
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.
- 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, William (December 18, 1988). "A Lurid, Mysterious Scandal Begins Taking Shape in Omaha". The New York Times. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
- ^ 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.
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