Man With Alleged $5M Plot Against Letterman Is Freed

Kelly Allen Frank was arrested in 2005
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Dec 23, 2018 6:07 AM CST
Man Who Allegedly Plotted to Kidnap Letterman's Son Is Freed
In a Monday, July 11, 2005 file photo, Kelly Frank sits in court during a hearing, in Conrad, Mont. Frank, once accused of plotting to kidnap retired talk show host David Letterman’s son and nanny, was released in mid-November 2018 from a Montana prison for a second time.   (Robin Loznak/Great Falls Tribune via AP, File)

A man once accused of plotting to kidnap retired talk show host David Letterman's son and nanny has been released from a Montana prison for a second time after serving additional years for violating parole. Kelly Allen Frank was released in mid-November and is under the supervision of parole officials, the Great Falls Tribune reported Saturday. Frank was a painter on Letterman's Montana ranch when he was arrested in 2005 on charges of solicitation to kidnap. Investigators said he told an acquaintance of a plan to abduct Letterman's son, Harry Joseph, then 16 months old, and the nanny for a $5 million ransom, reports the AP. The Tribune cites court records that said Frank allegedly claimed he had a key to the home and would have been able to sneak in.

In a deal with prosecutors, Frank pleaded guilty to theft for overcharging Letterman for painting. He also pleaded guilty to obstruction for lying to investigators and to an unrelated poaching charge. Prosecutors dropped the kidnap-related charge. Frank was sentenced to 10 years in prison but escaped in 2007. He was recaptured and given an additional 10-year sentence. He was released in 2014 but re-arrested in 2015 for violating the terms of his parole. The conditions of his latest parole include spending at least six months in semi-restricted housing and wearing a GPS monitor for at least six months.

(More David Letterman stories.)

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