Denton constable faces sex charges
The Colony: Case in Colorado alleges intent to assault a child
10:21 PM CDT on Friday, July 29, 2005

By JAY PARSONS / The Dallas Morning News

A Denton County constable drove to a Colorado restaurant on Thursday and called a woman he met through the Internet to let her know he had arrived, according to court papers. Instead of Marsha showing up with her 8-year-old daughter for a sexual encounter, he met her colleagues – Cañon City, Colo., police officers.

Larry Dale Floyd, a 62-year-old constable from The Colony, was arrested on suspicion of soliciting to have sex with a child and was charged with seven related crimes, Cañon City police said.

Mr. Floyd was being held at the Fremont County Detention Center in southern Colorado on $100,000 cash-only bail. He could not be reached for comment.

Texas and Colorado investigators are looking into Mr. Floyd's life for evidence of other encounters with children, said Dave Bodycomb, a Cañon City police records clerk. "They have suspicion he's done that," Mr. Bodycomb said.

Investigators would not comment further, but court papers detail sexually explicit conversations with an undercover officer dating to June 2.

Charges against Mr. Floyd include conspiracy and criminal intent to commit sexual assault on a child, pandering of a child, inducement of child prostitution, trafficking in children, criminal solicitation, solicitation for child prostitution and enticement of a child.

A person using the screen name freevacation_formoms contacted Marsha – the undercover officer's alias – through an online instant messaging service, according to the statement of probable cause released by the clerk's office of the Fremont County Combined Court.

The person identified himself as Rick from Oklahoma. He described himself as a "very real older male, clean, safe, discreet" with "a motor home so will travel," according to the document.

Rick asked about Marsha's 8-year-old daughter, Melissa. He "told me that he had no limits, none at all, other than moms rule," the officer wrote in the court document. The officer's name was redacted in the court papers.

Rick told Marsha about explicit sexual acts he wanted to perform with her and her daughter, according to the document.

"He also told me that he had traveled two times before so far for this same thing," the officer wrote. "Rick told me that he was looking for one mom into this that he could visit and take on vacation several times a year."

Child photos

The next day, Rick asked to speak with Melissa on the phone. "He said that she needed to chat with uncle Rick," the officer wrote.

It's unclear whether that phone call took place.

Marsha sent Rick childhood photos of a female police officer. They traded several more instant messages, phone calls and e-mails until June 29, when Rick said he planned to visit Cañon City on July 28.

In one phone conversation, Rick asked whether Marsha knew any other children. Marsha replied that she had a friend with a 16-month-old boy and 3-year-old girl.

"He wanted us to be able to have my friend's two children for the weekend so we could be sexually active with them also," the officer wrote in the probable cause statement. "He mentioned a few times that they were the age that they wouldn't talk and tell and asked if I thought they would," the officer wrote. "I told that him they wouldn't." On Thursday, the man called Marsha to say he had arrived at a Denny's restaurant in Cañon City and was waiting for them.

And the police were waiting for him.

Mr. Floyd has been a Denton County constable since 1993. A Republican, Mr. Floyd was unopposed in his most recent re-election in November.

"My promise to the people was to have a high level of visibility and to serve the citizens in a professional manner," Mr. Floyd wrote on the Web site for his Constable's Office.

Denton County officials said Friday that it's not clear what will happen with his Precinct 2 position, which covers The Colony and parts of neighboring cities. The deputy constable is filling in during the interim. He did not return a call for comment. Because constables are elected, county commissioners cannot remove him, said County Judge Mary Horn of Denton County. The district attorney could take steps for his removal, and if that happens, the commissioners would appoint a replacement, she said. "We have to let the legal system prove its course, but this is just terrible," Ms. Horn said. "It's doubly sad because it implies there are other victims."

Ms. Horn said she ordered Mr. Floyd's county-owned computer locked down and would cooperate with outside law enforcement agencies.

Tom Keever, the chief district attorney over Denton County's civil division, did not return phone messages.

'Shocked'

"I am shocked and disappointed that he would do something like that," said Jim Dotson, another Denton County constable. "If they have a case against him, I'd say prosecute to the fullest, regardless of who it is."

Mr. Floyd is married with three children, according to his Web site. He is a Vietnam War veteran and has served in several law enforcement positions since leaving the Army in 1980, according to his Web site.

"I hope he's innocent," said John Dillard, mayor of The Colony. "Anytime something like this happens to a decorated Vietnam War veteran, it's sad."

Mr. Bodycomb said the Texas Rangers and the Dallas police Internet Crimes Against Children unit were helping investigate.

Mr. Bodycomb said Cañon City's part-time Internet Crimes Against Children unit has arrested 10 or 11 people in recent years.

E-mail jparsons@dallasnews.com


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