Vt. Sex Offender Runs For Office

Convicted Of Sex With Minor, DUI, Candidate For State Seat Says His Closet Is Free Of Skeletons

(AP)  Larkin Forney doesn't have the most conventional background: He's a convicted sex offender and drunken driver, a head injury victim and a marijuana legalization advocate.

But that hasn't stopped him running for state Senate.

Forney, 31, of Milton, who pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a minor and has three driving under the influence convictions, said he's running to bring public attention to flaws in the criminal justice system - and to let the world know he's no pedophile.

He knows his background may scare off some voters, but he figures honesty might win him some votes in the race for one of six at-large seats representing Vermont's most populous county.

"All my skeletons are out in the open, while other people continue to deny theirs," he said.

Vermont law has no ban on people with criminal records running for office. If you live in the district you want to represent and you gather enough signatures from people - in state Senate races, that's 100 - you can get on the ballot.

Forney did.

His name appears with 13 others on Tuesday's ballot, under the "Justice for Vermonters" party label. In his campaign literature, he says diagnosed sexual predators and pedophiles should be sent to prison for life, marijuana should be legalized and U.S. troops withdrawn from Iraq.

"We haven't had situations where anybody with that kind of record's been elected," said Secretary of State Deborah Markowitz. "We've had people with criminal records run for office, usually at the local level, for constable or lister. At the end of the day, the voters make a choice."

In any election, Forney probably would face an uphill battle. Running this year makes his candidacy especially unlikely.

The abduction, rape and murder of 12-year-old Brooke Bennett - allegedly by her sex-offender uncle, Michael Jacques - has badly shaken people in Vermont, and prompted a vigorous election-year debate over how best to prevent sex crimes and punish those responsible.

Electing a sex offender? It could happen, Forney says.

"I don't think I have that bad of a shot," he said. "The government can put the sex offender label on someone, but it doesn't make them a pedophile or a dangerous person."

Forney, who suffered a traumatic brain injury as an 8-year-old boy when he was hit by a car, blames the injury for some of his troubles, which include a suicide attempt in which he set himself on fire.

The sex charge stemmed from a 2002 incident in which he had sex with a 14-year-old girl. He says the sex was consensual, and that the girl lied about her age. Attempts to reach her for comment - through the Chittenden County victim's advocate's office - were unsuccessful.

Forney, who pleaded guilty to the charge in 2005, served 19 months in prison. He claims he was pressured into the plea.

Whatever the truth, his candidacy was a surprise.

"It's a little odd that in this political climate, he's willing to run," said state Sen. Diane Snelling, a Republican. "To some extent, you have to give the guy credit. If he wants to take his case to the people, great. But his argument will only reach certain people."

Pearse Corcoran, 22, of Burlington, who cast his vote last week at Burlington City Hall, said he didn't vote for Forney.

"I had heard about him. I heard it was circumstantial and all that, but I think that's irrelevant. Plus, there's the DUI thing," he said.

Should Forney win, he would not be subject to a state Constitution article that gives the House and Senate the authority to expel a member. Such expulsion can't be for causes known to voters before the election, according to David Gibson, secretary of the state Senate.

"That sounds like it would exclude him," said Gibson.

[shylove2]

Consenual *** with a minor past puberty is a special case of it''s own and depends quite a bit on circumstances. Everyone these days has a ready condemnation. They have a ready solution too, rest of life in jail until the jails are so full we can''t afford them and we just let everyone loose again without solving anything. Pedophiles happen to be a special case too and death and life sentences also have an impact on the extent to which people will go to escape punishment.
No one thinks their childhood experience might be a factor, Nancy''s just say NO is a simple but ineffective solution. Sexual repression is a complex and prevalent problem in our society and the world in general and relegating it to the domain of religious dogma and crime and punishment is not helping.

[m8143]

SICKO!!!!! Should be flogged!!!!

[babooph]

Very odd that is not already an acclaimed" family values" politician,or evangelical minister .The only thing he lacks in denial.

[dewbug2]

I was going to say something, but ACHADOG beat me to it....I''d like to see this guy run....RUN HIS SORRY TOOKUS OUT OF TOWN ON A RAIL !!!!of course, we are talking Vermont resident here, a state that just passed a law to let all the other degenerates (queers and *****) to marry one another....so I ain''t surprised....the moral fiber of this country is shredded,proven recently by the caliber of dipsticks running for dictator slash presidente

[igdtn]

Although I think the justice system is a total disaster. This guy is a joke, has he no shame? what an example of shame to the state of Vermont

[slim1h2o]

I wonder if the rest of the world is laughing at us, or crying about us?

What a joke for a government.


On all levels...........

[grouchyjohn]

He should have ran in Texas.

Half the friggin'' state is s`e`x offenders!!

[brucie2006]

Republican''s have Mark Foley, Larry Craig; this guy should have equal rights - Just the Repigs might loose!!

[achadog]

HE will fit right in..and be welcomed...that''s the SAD truth.

[observer2020]

Well, anybody can run for any kind of office...just hope the voting people know what kind of person they''re voting for....and then can live with their decision.

[besttyper]

Are you effing kidding me??????? Yes, you ARE a pedophile because she was FOURTEEN, and ALL pedophiles are dangerous!!! If you were "pressured" into the plea, then you are also guilty of perjury because at your allocution the judge asks you if you are making the plea of your own free will. Don''t you think that would have been the appropriate time to speak up? You are definitely not the type of person I want to call my representative. Sheesh!!!