SALT LAKE CITY ( KSL.com A Utah National Guard member, who was covertly recorded by her superior 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 for acknowledging his involvement in making unauthorized recordings of a non-commissioned officer.
Initially, he was held at an Army detention center 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 instances of sexual assault and harassment regardless of the offender’s rank. Typically, KSL.com refrains from identifying survivors of such abuses, and this National Guardswoman prefers to stay unnamed.
She mentioned that she initially discovered her niche in the Utah National Guard when preparing 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 it challenging to adjust.
She discovered that adapting to the new surroundings agreed with her.
I was making great progress. The weight loss was happening just as I had hoped, which boosted my self-confidence," she shared. Despite being fully committed to her studies, she also dedicated time to volunteer at a local orphanage. "This made me feel very satisfied with life. My sense of assurance grew stronger each day. Through this experience, I discovered more about myself and truly enjoyed what I found.
Frequently, because of the scorching triple-digit temperatures and high humidity, she would cover the one-and-a-half-mile distance from her living area to her workspace—which consisted of two stacked shipping containers—and then change into her uniform at her destination.
She told Francis, her supervisor, "He would always say that I could use his office whenever I desired, as his space was mine too, and he enjoyed sharing what he possessed. I simply thought he was exceptionally kind-hearted."
She mentioned that Francis, who is a licensed social worker, adopted a "fun sort of paternal role," and he frequently told her that she was akin to a daughter to him—almost all the time. According to him, this sentiment came up quite often, emphasizing that she belonged to his family.
He was the individual I relied on the most, the one person whom I trusted above all others there. ... He essentially positioned himself in that role. He made me share details with him that I never disclosed to anyone else," she explained. "Therefore, I believe he was manipulating me, whether intentionally or not.
On August 23, 2024, the woman requested to change clothes in her office following lunch. She mentioned having gone for a swim during her break, which had become a regular habit. As such, she was dressed in street clothing worn over her swimming suit at the time.
As she approached the entrance, he was messing with an object close to the niches beside the entryway. She recounted, "He turned around, spotted me, and remarked, 'It’s all yours.' Then, he moved past me and shut the door behind him," yet this exchange felt 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 gap behind the hanging slot in the gift card package inside a basket. Reaching behind the paper, she said, "I pulled out the phone, which was actively recording," as she remembered it.
He was supposed to leave the facility in two days, to celebrate his 25th wedding anniversary, according to the woman.
I thought to myself, 'Okay, I'll just act like this never occurred. I'm going to erase this from existence.… Let’s pretend this whole incident never took place,'" she stated, "I was completely (shocked).
Trying to figure out what occurred, she set off looking for Francis initially, as he had departed from the office, followed by seeking one of her colleagues. By the time she came back after not finding either, Francis had come back too, confessing his actions to an experienced non-commissioned superior and yet another coworker.
I simply wasn't sure 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 reported it. Honestly, I genuinely doubted that anyone would take me seriously.
He was highly esteemed and widely recognized, with a much more senior position than mine. Everyone adored him; he had an excellent reputation," she explained. "He was cheerful, content, universally beloved, and completely trustworthy. It just didn’t seem possible that anyone would think such a thing about him.
Following the incident, she received a restraining order against Francis on the base, even though he remained nearby for about seven days. "Each time the door opened or when someone entered using the access code, I feared it might be him, trying to locate me or speak with me... I did not wish to encounter him; I wanted nothing more than to avoid seeing him. My hands were perpetually trembling, and I couldn't stop crying."
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 commented.
At the time of sentencing, Servicewomen told Francis, who was nearing retirement, that he would be permitted to voluntarily leave the military, serving only three months behind bars instead. "I responded saying that this punishment was insufficient; I was not 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 what amounted to a dishonorable discharge for military personnel, as stated in a communication from the U.S. Army Office of Special Trials.
Francis' behavior "violated both her oath of trust and the faith the Army had in him as the commanding behavioral health officer," stated Major Zach Ray, who was serving as an Army prosecutor for this case, in his declaration.
"I'm grateful that my voice was heard," she stated, though she continues to grapple with the impact of what Francis did to her, betraying that sense of trust. Now back in Utah, she is nearing completion of her studies in social work.
In conclusion, she emphasized the importance of speaking up regardless of whom it involves. It makes no difference who the person may be; one should speak out and ensure accountability for their actions.
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