Carlisle, Pa. - Former Wormleysburg Borough Councilman Ron Frank took the stand in a Cumberland County courtroom Friday morning and tearfully asked for his freedom.

Frank, 62, is behind bars on charges he molested four young boys.  Police said they wanted to become junior firefighters.  Frank was serving as commissioner of the West Shore Bureau of Fire.  In one case, police said Frank paid the teen each time to keep his mouth shut.

His bail is currently set at $250,000.  Frank and his attorney asked Judge Skip Ebert to reduce that bail to $50,000 so he could use his house as collateral and return home to his family.

Ebert denied the request after prosecutors argued they believed Frank is a danger to the community.

"I just want to go home to my family," Frank said crying on the stand. 

Frank described himself as "a broken down volunteer fire chief," and admitted he contemplated suicide after his arrest this past summer.  He denied rumors that he made an actual attempt to take his own life.

He appeared angry at times on the stand, telling the prosecution, "you ruined my life."

"We'll leave that up to the judgment of the public whether what we have done has ruined this person's life or what he has done has ruined his life," said District Attorney Dave Freed.

West Shore Regional Police Detective Jeff Franks testified at the hearing that Frank confessed to some of the crimes, and even indicated more victims may be out there.

Frank vehemently denied that statement.

"I talked to Jeff Franks because I thought he was my friend and was trying to help me...and he stuck it to me," Frank said.

Frank's attorney, William Tully, said his client plans to fight the confession before the case heads to trial.

"Essentially his cooperation has been used to basically lock him away since the time of his arrest and is being used as a basis of denying his bail," Tully said.  "That's the part he's having trouble grasping."

Frank's ex-wife and a man who described himself as Frank's unofficial adopted son also testified on his behalf.

"I think someone at his age, all you really have sometimes is your family and he's obviously never really been taken away from them before," Tully said.  "It's obviously taken its toll on him."

On the stand, Frank also complained that he does not have access to television, newspapers, or the prison chapel because of his high bail status. 

"It's not home...it's jail," Freed said.  "It's not going to be like it is at home."

If convicted of the charges, Frank faces a mandatory minimum of ten years behind bars.

 

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