Man gets 10 years in Letterman kidnapping case

Frank Allen allegedly had plans to kidnap David Letterman's 16-month-old son and nanny and hold them for ransom. Picture / Herald file

SAN FRANCISCO - A former painter on David Letterman's Montana ranch who faced charges of scheming to kidnap the talk-show host's son and nanny has been sentenced to 10 years behind bars on lesser charges, the prosecutor said on Tuesday.

After learning of Kelly Frank's alleged kidnapping plot, local authorities took the painter, who had worked on Letterman's ranch near Choteau, Montana, into custody in March.

In July, Frank struck a plea bargain with prosecutors, agreeing to lesser charges that included overbilling Letterman for a job and illegally killing a mule deer on the celebrity's property.

A Teton County judge sentenced Frank on Monday, sending him to prison for 10 years and stripping him of hunting and fishing privileges in Montana for 25 years, said Teton County Attorney Joe Coble.

"The sentence was 10 years to the Montana state prison for embezzlement, six months to Teton County jail for obstructing a police officer and five years to the Montana state prison for illegally possessing wildlife," he said.

"In addition, he was ordered to pay $9,500 in restitution to the state of Montana and Deep Creek Ranch Llc, which is wholly owned by David Letterman."

The sentences were "significant" and will be served concurrently, said Jim Hunt, Frank's lawyer.

Frank was alleged to have revealed to an acquaintance his intention to kidnap Letterman's then 16-month-old son and the boy's nanny. Frank allegedly intended to hold the pair for a $5 million ransom.

- REUTERS