Willie Frank, left, with his father, the late Billy Frank Jr., and Fran Wilshusen. Photo by Peggan Hines via Make No Bones About It
William Frank, the vice chairman of the Nisqually Tribe of Washington, will continue drug treatment after being sentenced in a theft case. Frank pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree theft and two counts of second-degree theft. He admitted that he took more than $50,000 from two tribal accounts while in the throes of a substance abuse addiction. Frank also pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree attempted theft. He admitted that he went into two banks with the intent of robbing them although he never followed through. Frank already started treatment and will continue his efforts under court supervision, The Olympian reported. He's already repaid the tribe for the money he took and he remains on the council because his resignation was not accepted. “The majority of our tribe stands behind Willie,” Chairman Farron McCloud told the paper. “As chairman, I would do this for any one of my people.” Frank is the son of the late treaty rights advocate Billy Frank Jr. The thefts from the tribal bank accounts occurred as the elder Frank's health began declining prior to his death in May 2014. The attempted bank robberies occurred afterward. Get the Story:
Drug treatment, no prison, for Nisqually vice chairman Willie Frank (The Olympian 11/14)
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