SALT LAKE CITY ( KSL.com A Utah National Guard member, who was covertly recorded by her supervisor as she changed clothes during deployment, has come forward following his sentencing in January.
U.S. Army Major Kenton L. Francis, aged 52, who commanded a behavioral health team stationed at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, Africa, received a sentence of six months' confinement and was discharged from the military on January 30 after pleading guilty to making unauthorized recordings of a non-commissioned officer.
Initially, he was held at an Army corrective institution located at Sembach Kaserne in Germany and is currently waiting for his relocation to a facility within the U.S.
The woman talked to KSL.com with the aim of motivating women, particularly those serving in the military, to come forward about incidents of sexual abuse and harassment regardless of the rank of the individual involved. KSL.com generally refrains from identifying survivors of such abuses, and the National Guardswoman prefers to stay unnamed.
She mentioned that she initially discovered her niche in the Utah National Guard when training to offer mental health support to her fellow servicemen and women.
In the spring of 2024, she was sent to Djibouti, a tiny nation located in eastern Africa near the entrance of the Red Sea, where she intended to remain for one year to assist fellow Guards who were finding the adjustment difficult.
She found the change in environment suited her.
I was making great progress. The weight loss was happening as desired, and I felt very self-assured," she stated. While continuing her full-time studies, she also dedicated time to volunteer at a local orphanage. "This made me feel incredibly satisfied. My sense of confidence had grown stronger. Through these experiences, I discovered my true identity and embraced it.
Often, due to the triple-digit heat and humidity, she would walk the mile and a half from her quarters to her office — two shipping containers stacked on top of each other — and change into a uniform there.
She told Francis, her supervisor, "He would constantly say that I could utilize his office whenever I wished, considering his area as my own space and expressing how much he enjoyed sharing what he possessed. I simply thought he was exceptionally gracious. In reality, he was merely being kind."
She mentioned that Francis, who is a licensed social worker, adopted a "funny sort of paternal role," and he frequently told her that she was like a daughter to him—almost all the time. According to him, this sentiment came up quite often, emphasizing that she was part of his family.
He was the individual I relied on the most, the one person I had the highest trust in within that setting. ... He essentially positioned himself as such. He managed to get me to share aspects of myself that I kept hidden from others," she explained. "Therefore, I believe he might have been manipulating me, whether intentionally or not.
On August 23, 2024, the woman requested to change clothes in her office following lunch. During her break, she had visited the pool and had developed this habit; at the time, she was dressed in street clothing over her swimwear, as she mentioned.
As she approached the entrance, he was messing with an object close to the cubbies near the doorway. She mentioned, "He turned around, spotted me, and stated, 'It’s all yours.' Then, he moved past me and shut the door behind him," yet this encounter seemed peculiar to her.
As she was in the room, she glanced at the spot where Francis had stood and noticed a small green light coming through the hangar hole in the gift card sleeve inside a basket. Reaching behind the paper, she said, "I pulled out the phone, and it was actively recording," as she remembered it.
She mentioned that he was scheduled to depart from the institution in two days to mark their 25th marriage anniversary.
I thought to myself, 'Okay, I'll just act like this never occurred. I'm going to erase this. ... Let's pretend this never happened,'" she stated, "I was completely (shocked).
In an effort to grasp what transpired, she set out looking for Francis, who had departed from the office, followed by seeking one of her colleagues. By the time she came back, Francis had already returned and confessed his actions to a higher-ranking non-commissioned officer as well as another coworker.
I simply didn't know how to proceed. However, essentially, that decision was largely removed from my hands, and truthfully, I'm relieved," she stated. "I doubt I would have come forward with it. Honestly, I didn't think anyone would take me seriously.
"He commanded great respect and recognition, with a much senior position compared to mine. People really admired him; everyone had affection for him. He was perpetually cheerful and approachable. Everyone held him dear and placed their trust in him. For me though, I thought, 'No one would ever think something like this could be true,'" she explained.
Following the incident, she received a restraining order against Francis on the base, even though he remained nearby for about seven days. "Whenever the door opened or somebody entered the code to come inside, I was always terrified that it might be him, trying to locate me or speak with me...I did not wish to encounter him. The mere thought made me cry nonstop, and I trembled continuously."
The guard from the Criminal Investigation Division questioned her and then took him into custody. "I'm grateful that everything got resolved so swiftly," she stated.
At the time of sentencing, Servicewoman said Francis, who was nearing retirement, would be permitted to voluntarily leave the military, serving just three months behind bars instead. "I told them that wasn't sufficient; I wasn't satisfied with that outcome."
She went to Italy for the hearings and read out a victim impact statement. Ultimately, Francis, who had clandestinely recorded her on three occasions, received a punishment similar to being dishonorably discharged for military personnel, as stated in a communication from the U.S. Army Office of Special Trials.
Francis' behavior "not only violated her trust, but also undermined the faith the Army had in him as the commanding behavioral health officer," stated Major Zach Ray, who was serving as an Army prosecutor in this case.
"I'm grateful that my voice was heard," she stated, yet continues to grapple with the impact of Francis' actions toward her, considering his role as a trusted figure. Currently, she has returned to Utah and is nearing completion of her education in social work.
In conclusion, she emphasized the importance of speaking up regardless of whom it may involve. It makes no difference who the person is; one must speak out and ensure accountability for their actions.
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