Legislature(2019 - 2020)GRUENBERG 120
02/27/2019 01:00 PM House JUDICIARY
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s): Violent Crimes Compensation Board | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE JUDICIARY STANDING COMMITTEE
February 27, 2019
1:02 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Matt Claman, Chair
Representative Gabrielle LeDoux, Vice Chair
Representative Chuck Kopp
Representative Adam Wool
Representative Laddie Shaw
Representative David Eastman
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Louise Stutes
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
Violent Crimes Compensation Board
John Francis - Wasilla
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
JOHN FRANCIS
Wasilla, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified and answered questions as
appointee to the Violent Crimes Compensation Board.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:02:36 PM
CHAIR MATT CLAMAN called the House Judiciary Standing Committee
meeting to order at 1:02 p.m. Representatives Claman, LeDoux,
Shaw, Eastman, and Wool were present at the call to order.
Representative Kopp arrived as the meeting was in progress.
^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S): Violent Crimes Compensation Board
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
Violent Crimes Compensation Board
1:03:10 PM
CHAIR CLAMAN announced that the only order of business would be
a confirmation hearing for the appointment of John Francis to
the Violent Crimes Compensation Board. Chair Claman opened
public testimony on Mr. Francis's appointment.
1:04:43 PM
JOHN FRANCIS, Appointee, Violent Crimes Compensation Board,
shared some biographical information and said he is the owner of
Mat-Su Computer Medics in Wasilla. He stated that he is the
founding administrator of the Facebook groups "Stolen in Alaska"
and "Mat Valley Crime Discussion." He said he started these
groups because there had previously been no way for his company
to easily search for stolen computers. He added that he felt
the groups were a great way for his business to give back to the
community. He said the groups help to keep the public informed
about local criminals.
MR. FRANCIS stated that, as his Facebook groups evolved and his
business grew, victims of violent crimes began reaching out to
him through Facebook and in person. He said most victims of
violent crimes understandably do not feel comfortable speaking
publicly about the effect violent crime has had on their lives.
He called it frustrating that he can do little to help these
people other than be supportive. He noted that he has helped
connect victims to his contacts in law enforcement, the legal
system, and politics. He said the reason he wants to serve on
the Violent Crimes Compensation Board is because he is very
passionate about helping people to recover from violence. He
noted that a violent crime affects "the entire family." He said
he is compassionate "almost to a fault." He pointed to
management skills he has acquired through business and
parenthood. He said he is skilled at determining when people
are telling the truth and when people are embellishing.
MR. FRANCIS addressed questions that have arisen about his
ghost-hunting hobby. He described how he and his wife entered
into ghost-hunting. He explained that he and his wife try to
distance themselves from the ghost hunting conducted by self-
proclaimed psychics and mediums. He discussed the comfort felt
by people for whom they investigate unexplainable experiences.
He stated that this venture is another method of helping people
and that "there is nothing weird or demonic about it."
1:09:00 PM
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN asked about Mr. Francis's experience in
the United States Coast Guard (USCG).
MR. FRANCIS said he entered the USCG Reserve in 1979 with the
intent to transition to active duty after graduating high
school. He explained that the USCG was at that time part of the
Department of Transportation (DOT) and, due to DOT budget cuts,
he was not allowed to transition to active duty. He said he was
put into inactive reserves around 1983 and left with an
honorable discharge two years later.
1:10:02 PM
The committee took a brief at-ease at 1:10 p.m.
1:10:38 PM
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL asked for further detail on [Alaska Ghost
Hunting] (AKGH).
MR. FRANCIS said AKGH is the ghost-hunting group he started
approximately ten years ago. He called the group "pretty much
inactive." He noted that the group did "some episodes for the
Discovery Channel."
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL requested additional details.
MR. FRANCIS drew a distinction between his hobby of ghost-
hunting and the sort of ghost-hunting on television. He called
AKGH "a very simple group" and said they are only interested in
answering people's questions about spirits and the like. He
said AKGH consists of his family and friends. He explained that
AKGH would go to people's homes or small businesses and seek out
an explanation for various "experiences." He said they often
attributed strange sounds to plumbing or the wind. When no
explanation can be established, he said AKGH talks it out with
the person to settle fears. He said, "We don't believe in
demons or anything like that."
1:12:38 PM
CHAIR CLAMAN asked for information about Mr. Francis's
involvement with a Mat-Su victims rights [Facebook] group.
MR. FRANCIS clarified that he was not a part of a victims'
rights group. Mr. Francis explained that the two Facebook
groups he does oversee were intended for individuals to report
crimes of theft, not violent crimes. He said that the two
groups are highly active and that he manages both groups as
founding administrator.
CHAIR CLAMAN asked for additional information about his role in
managing the groups.
MR. FRANCIS stated that he shares news articles to the group and
generally refrains from discussion. He gave an example of a
much-discussed domestic dispute that generated many comments.
He said he supports victims and has little compassion for
perpetrators.
1:14:38 PM
CHAIR CLAMAN asked where Mr. Francis attended high school.
MR. FRANCIS said he attended Ferris High School in Spokane,
Washington.
CHAIR CLAMAN asked if Mr. Francis has ever pled guilty to any
crimes.
MR. FRANCIS answered "yes."
CHAIR CLAMAN said, "Tell me about that."
MR. FRANCIS said he had been "involved with some bad people" in
high school and was involved in crimes. He noted that he left
the group and moved away. He said one of these people contacted
him later and asked for Mr. Francis to "help him do some
things." Mr. Francis said he turned that individual in to the
state patrol and that the individual was arrested. He said he
"turned state's evidence," disclosed his past, and never looked
back.
CHAIR CLAMAN asked when it was that Mr. Francis pled guilty to a
crime and what the product was to that guilty plea.
MR. FRANCIS stated there was one instance in which he pled
guilty to burglary and another in which he pled guilty to
insurance fraud. He said they were 40 years ago.
CHAIR CLAMAN asked what Mr. Francis learned from these
experiences in relation to his current application to be on the
Violent Crimes Compensation Board.
MR. FRANCIS said it makes him very sad that he was ever involved
in criminal activity. He said he was an entirely different
person back then. He expressed regret for every hurting anyone.
CHAIR CLAMAN said it sounds like he is someone who erred in his
past but was given an opportunity to reform and rehabilitate
himself.
MR. FRANCIS said "yes."
CHAIR CLAMAN asked if Mr. Francis believes others who have
committed crimes should be given an opportunity to have that
same chance at rehabilitation.
MR. FRANCIS said yes, except those who have committed violent
crimes.
1:17:03 PM
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX asked if Mr. Francis's guilty plea to
insurance fraud occurred while he was in high school.
MR. FRANCIS said he was 18 or 19 when he pled guilty to
insurance fraud.
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX asked if the insurance fraud was a felony
or misdemeanor.
MR. FRANCIS said he thinks it was a felony on account of the
value.
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX asked if the burglary was a felony or
misdemeanor.
MR. FRANCIS said he thinks it was also a felony. He clarified
that he pled to those crimes at the same time.
1:18:05 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SHAW asked whether Mr. Francis would remain
active with the [Facebook] groups should his appointment be
confirmed.
MR. FRANCIS said that, unless he is told he cannot, he will.
1:18:27 PM
CHAIR CLAMAN asked whether Mr. Francis's felony convictions
occurred before or after his time in the USCG Reserve.
MR. FRANCIS answered that the pleas were during his time in the
USCG Reserve.
CHAIR CLAMAN asked for confirmation that Mr. Francis recalls
these pleas to have occurred in or around 1985 or 1986.
MR. FRANCIS said the crimes themselves were much earlier. He
said it is "possible" the pleas occurred in 1985 or 1986. He
said it is difficult to remember.
CHAIR CLAMAN asked for confirmation that these events all took
place in Washington.
MR. FRANCIS answered "yes."
1:19:15 PM
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL asked what his sentence was for his crimes.
MR. FRANCIS answered "nothing." He said he might have spent a
weekend in jail.
CHAIR CLAMAN asked if Mr. Francis was on probation.
MR. FRANCIS answered that he was on probation for at least five
years. He said the judge originally wanted to impose two years
of probation, but he requested five years instead.
1:20:21 PM
CHAIR CLAMAN, after ascertaining that no one wished to testify,
closed public testimony.
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX said Mr. Francis has an interesting hobby.
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN thanked Mr. Francis for applying for the
position and for answering committee questions.
1:21:23 PM
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX stated that the House Judiciary Standing
Committee has reviewed the qualifications of the governor's
appointee and recommends John Francis's name be forwarded to a
joint session of the House and Senate for consideration for the
Violent Crimes Compensation Board. She said signing the
committee report does not reflect intent by any of the members
to vote for or against this individual during any further
sessions for the purpose of confirmation.
CHAIR CLAMAN said Mr. Francis's name would be forwarded to the
joint session.
1:22:03 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Judiciary Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 1:22 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Violent Crimes Compensation Board Appointment-John Francis Application 2.27.19.pdf |
HJUD 2/27/2019 1:00:00 PM |