Victim Shares Disturbing Allegations Against Former Livingston Co. ADA Member Accused of Misconduct

Geneseo, NY (WHAM) – New information has come to light in the case of the former Livingston County Assistant District Attorney accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a crime victim.

We want to warn you that the allegations in this story are disturbing.

The victim in the case sat down with 13WHAM on Friday.

On Dec. 19, a Mount Morris woman contacted the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office to report what she called an “inappropriate relationship.” Four days later, former Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Francisco, 30, of Pittsford, was arrested and charged with official misconduct.

BACKGROUND: Former Livingston County Assistant District Attorney Charged with Official Misconduct

The woman said her relationship with Francisco, who was assigned to prosecute her domestic violence case, started out normal. That changed, she said, when he began sending her text messages that became sexual in nature.

“He called me and basically told me, ‘If you want help, you have to do these things for me,’ and if I didn’t do it, he told me he was going to take my children away from me,” she said. . “He exploited everything he wanted me to send him, like my photos.”

The woman alleged that Francisco pressured her into sending nude photos and having phone sex. He stated that he was under the impression that if he did not stop, his case would be dismissed. The woman wrote in the supporting statement: “I didn’t have the money to hire a lawyer, so I kept doing this.”

“He kept saying that he was the only one who believed me, and I really felt that way because of everything that was going on,” the woman said.

In court documents, the woman said Francisco touched her inappropriately in the district attorney’s office conference room.

“Knowing that I can be touched and groped in a courtroom after a grand jury is disgusting, and I couldn’t scream, I couldn’t do anything,” she said.

Francisco left the prosecutor’s office in mid-December. He worked in the Wayne County District Attorney’s Office from Dec. 16 to Dec. 23. Francisco also worked for the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, but it is unknown for how long.

“Prosecutors must adhere to the highest ethical standards,” the Livingston County District Attorney recently stated. ashley williams he said in a statement. “The alleged conduct is reprehensible, a violation of the public trust and will never be tolerated. Because these charges involve his time working under the previous district attorney, a special prosecutor will handle the case.”

The victim alleged that Francisco took advantage of her situation to benefit himself.

“I caused serious harm emotionally and physically to someone who is simply trying to get their life back together,” he said. “And I have to live with that every day.”

At the end of the statement of support, he wrote: “Looking back at the entire situation with Jonathan, I realize it was totally inappropriate, but I thought a good relationship with him would help me with my cases.”

Francisco was released on personal recognizance after the arraignment.

13WHAM attempted to contact Francisco and the Livingston County Public Defender’s Office for comment, but we have not yet received a response.