Copyright 2001 Denver Publishing Company  
Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO)
December 5, 2001 Wednesday Final Edition
SECTION: LOCAL; Pg. 7A

LENGTH: 747 words

HEADLINE: PAROLE BOARD MEMBER FIRED;
EX-GOP LEGISLATOR FACES CHILD PORN ALLEGATIONS

BYLINE: John Sanko and Dick Foster, News Staff Writers

BODY:
A Colorado State Parole Board member was fired from his $77,928-a-year job Tuesday after a warrant was issued to search his home for child pornography.

Gov. Bill Owens said he fired Larry Jack Schwarz, 61, a former Republican state representative from Wetmore in south-central Colorado, after he learned of the allegations.

Custer County Sheriff Fred Jobe said the investigation began about three weeks ago when his office received allegations that Schwarz "might be in possession of pictures and material of sexual exploitation of children."

There are three alleged victims, all of whom were family members living in the Schwarz home when the incidents reportedly occurred, Jobe said.

Jobe would not identify the alleged victims, but said all now live outside of Colorado.

Schwarz, the father of five and grandfather of at least 16, could not be reached for comment.

Jobe notified the governor's office of his investigation and sought help from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, which entered the case Nov. 16.

No criminal charges have been filed against Schwarz, Jobe said.

The search warrant signed by Custer County District Judge Harold Taylor specified "any and all pornographic materials . . . containing photographs of or references to children or juveniles, letters, journals or diaries that could contain information about the sexual abuse or exploitation of any child or juvenile, financial records, bank statements, files or information related to any possible business interest in the child pornography industry . . ."

But both Jobe and CBI Deputy Director Pete Mang said there is no indication that anyone other than Schwarz is implicated.

"We don't know of any allegations outside the family, so we don't think we're looking at a predator or someone who would be a threat to the community or anything like that," said Jobe.

Jobe said the search of Schwarz's home began around 9 a.m. Tuesday and continued throughout the day.

Jobe would not reveal what if anything was found, saying the investigation is ongoing.

"It's a good-sized house and the things we're looking for could be in every nook and cranny," Jobe said. "It's probably going to go well into the night and we may have to go back again (Wednesday) morning."

Owens said he fired Schwarz for providing false information on his application for reappointment. Schwarz said on the application there was nothing in his background that would be "an embarrassment" if it became public.

Schwarz, served in the Colorado House from 1995 to 1997 when he quit in midterm. He was appointed to the parole board by former Gov. Roy Romer in August, 1997, and he reappointed in June, 2000, by Owens.

Schwarz was at the Capitol with his wife Tuesday morning when he was advised privately by Roy Palmer, the governor's chief of staff, that he was being fired.

Members of the governor's office and the state parole board will scrutinize Schwarz's actions to see if they show any pattern of abuse of his authority.

Parole board chairman Don Van Pelt says Schwarz could not have alone granted parole or leniency to sexual offenders since these cases require a vote of the entire seven-member board.

Van Pelt said Schwarz, who had served as the board's chairman, seemed to perform his board duties conscientiously.

"He was timely and prompt. He was where he was supposed to be when he was supposed to be," Van Pelt said. He would not comment on the allegations against Schwarz.

At the time of his first appointment, Schwarz said he was grateful for the post since his legislative duties had cost him his job as a trucking company manager.

He represented House District 44, which includes Custer, Fremont, Pueblo and Teller Counties.

He won several awards and honors, including citations from the County Sheriffs and Fraternal Order of Police. During his first term, he listed "crime prevention and punishment" among his key issues.

The news of his dismissal and the allegations surrounding it stunned many of his former colleagues who still serve in the legislature.

"I served with Larry Schwarz and this is really shocking to me," said Sen. Dave Owen, R-Greeley. "I will back the governor because he apparently has evidence."

Sen. Norma Anderson, R-Lakewood, who has played a key role in tightening up sex offender laws in Colorado, was also surprised.

"Boy, you just never know where it is," Anderson said. "I guess we have another candidate for the sex offenders' registration."

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