Updated Tuesday --- December 18, 2007 -- 3:36pm

A former youth leader accused of paying young boys for sex pleads not guilty in court Tuesday.

52-year old Greg Francis of the Town of Pleasant Springs faces charges stemming from an October investigation.

A criminal complaint alleges that Francis offered 4 boys money, liquor and drugs in exchange for various sex acts.

Francis was a former coach and boy scout leader in Stoughton.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Updated Monday --- December 3, 2007

2 boys sue former youth leader accused of paying teens for sex

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Two boys are suing a former youth group leader and coach who is criminally charged with plying teens with money, liquor and drugs in exchange for sex.

The lawsuit filed Thursday seeks unspecified compensatory damages for mental and emotional distress from 52-year-old Greg E. Francis. It also seeks unspecified punitive damages for actions Francis allegedly took that were considered malicious in their disregard for the boys' rights.

Francis was charged in October in Dane County Circuit Court with 4 counts of repeated sexual assault of a child, 4 counts of soliciting a child for prostitution and 2 counts of exposing a child to harmful material.

The boys have not been named in the suit.

Francis had been living in rural Stoughton at the time of the charges and has since moved to Madison. He is free on bail. A preliminary hearing in the criminal case is scheduled for December 18th.

AP

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Posted Monday --- November 12, 2007 -- 11:49am

Dane County man faces charges of child prostitution

A former coach and Boys Scout group leader accused of paying teenage boys for sex will appear in court Monday.

52-year-old Greg Francis has been charged with 4 counts of repeated sexual assault of a child, 4 counts of soliciting a child for prostitution and 2 counts of exposing a child to harmful material.

The criminal complaint says the allegations came to light as deputies investigated a serious vehicle accident that involved Francis' son.

Authorities say a number of people interviewed regarding that accident said Francis had engaged in sexual activity with acquaintances of his children.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Posted Tuesday ---- October 23, 2007 - 7:04pm

A Dane County man, praised by some as a leader in his community, is facing charges of child prostitution.

He's facing 10 felony counts -- four counts of repeated sexual assault of a child and another four counts of soliciting a child for prostitution, but some who know him as a generous and giving man cannot believe it.

"Many of these acts occurred in the defendant's home and in a camper on his property," Assistant District Attorney Mike Verveer says.

52 year-old Greg Francis has not been to his Town of Pleasant Springs home since being arrested on Thursday on charges of repeated sexual assault of a child. Investigators say four boys have come forward to detail sex acts in exchange for money, and at times, marijuana.

"Just taking those four victims, they have reported... that the defendant engaged in various sex acts with them literally hundreds of times over the last several years," Verveer says.

In the criminal complaint against him, the victims tell of sex acts at the family's home on Roidt Drive... some of the activity dating back to 2003 ... and as recent as ten days ago.

"Greg is the type of person who gives a lot to our community," Jeanne Sterken says.

Sterken has known Francis for years through his former leadership in Boy Scout Troop 53 in McFarland.

"He's a great guy, just the sort of person you would feel very comfortable spending time with," she says.

Sterken says she cannot speak for the troop, but she, and another woman involved with it, find the allegations hard to believe.

"I think we believe what his family needs most is our prayers while his son recuperates in the hospital," she says.

Investigators first heard reports about sexual activity between Francis and boys while interviewing people about a traffic incident near the Francis family's home. A son of Greg Francis was hurt badly when he fell from a moving truck earlier this month.

"I think that we believe these are all serious but they also need to be investigated. It's a very incomprehensible thing to consider," Sterken says.

But prosecutors say they might need to consider more charges as more possible victims contact investigators.

"There have been independent reports that the defendant exposed many boy scouts to viewing pornographic images on an outing on a camping trip," Verveer says.

Francis appeared in court, apparently under suicide watch, but he could be out soon. Bail was set at $5,000 for each count, or $50,000.

___________________________________________________________________

Updated Monday --- October 22, 2007 - 6:02pm

A Dane County man is in custody, suspected of exchanging money for sex acts with boys. Investigators believe the behavior has spanned at least a couple of years with multiple victims.

The sheriff says it's not unusual for one incident to prompt another investigation. This time, one involving the suspect's son almost two weeks earlier caused investigators to take a closer look -- exactly why is still unclear.

"This investigation began on October 10th as a result of a motor vehicle accident in the Town of Pleasant Springs," Sheriff Dave Mahoney says.

The sheriff says a 19-year-old man was hurt badly that night, when he fell out of a moving truck near his parents' home on Roidt Drive. The incident prompted another investigation -- this one at the family's home at the end of the cul de sac.

"As a result, the sheriff's office was contacted by a number of young adults, who indicated that they had information to share regarding Greg Francis and their involvement in sexual relations in exchange for money with Mr. Francis," Mahoney says.

On Thursday, investigators searched the Francis family's home in the Town of Pleasant Springs.

"They were there pretty late in the night. I got back around 9:45 and they were still out there," neighbor Mike Macke says.

They arrested 52-year-old Greg Francis on four counts of repeated, 2nd degree sexual assault of a child. The sheriff's office says Francis is a financial adviser, who's suspected of paying boys between the ages of 12 and 16 for sex acts at his home.

"Oh, wow... that's kind of a shock to the neighborhood ... it's a quiet neighborhood so it's a pretty big shock," Macke says.

Francis' son remains in the hospital two weeks after the incident while the sheriff says his father, already in jail, could face more charges stemming from the investigation.

"We're still under investigation, but we've identified at least four victims who have spoken voluntarily and have provided information that could be corroborated for the current charges," Mahoney says.

Greg Francis is expected in court for the first time on Tuesday.
______________________________________________________________________

Posted Monday --- October 22, 2007 - 11:02am
Updated Monday-- October 22, 2007 - 2:31pm

A Dane County man is behind bars -- accused of sexual assault.

He is identified as 52 year-old Greg Francis of Stoughton.

Detectives are investigating allegations that he had sexual contact with several teenage boys ... in his home in the Town of Pleasant Springs.

The investigation began when Francis' 19-year-old son fell out of a moving truck and was seriously injured.

The sheriff says information came forward after that incident earlier this month ... which prompted deputies to investigate further.

Authorities searched Francis' residence last Thursday and several items of evidence related to these incidents were seized.

Detectives say at least 4 victims reported they received money in exchange for sexual activity.

The ages of the victims range from 12 to 16 years old. The victims reported the activity took place over the course of several years.

Francis was arrested on tentative Felony charges of Engaging in Repeated Acts of 2nd Degree Sexual Assault of the same child (4 counts). His arrest was the result of an on-going investigation into allegations Francis has been having sexual contact with several teen-age boys.

Anyone with additional information regarding this case is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office Tips line at 284-6900.

We will have more on this story on NBC-15 News at 4.

TEEN Falls From Moving Truck:
http://www.nbc15.com/home/headlines/10458492.html