Child Molester Stars In Civic Pride Ad

APRIL 29--In a major municipal misstep, a New England town has just launched a promotional ad campaign that features a local sanitation worker who turns out to be a convicted child molester.

Public officials in New Bedford, Massachusetts said they were unaware of the rap sheet of Larry Heyes, the 50-year-old city employee featured in the first of a series of full-page newspaper ads promoting New Bedford and the surrounding South Coast region. Heyes's criminal record surfaced after the ad appeared in Sunday's edition of the Standard-Times.

Heyes pleaded guilty in 1994 to rape of a child, possession of child pornography, and other felonies stemming from a relationship he and another man had with a 14-year-old boy, according to Bristol County assistant district attorney Renee Dupuis. Though prosecutors sought a 20-year prison term, Heyes was sentenced to only five years probation.

The newspaper ad featuring Heyes carries a picture of the convicted felon with the word "Pride" superimposed over his image. Heyes was selected for the public service campaign by a local ad designer who was unaware of the man's criminal past. (1 page)

Check out this sex offender's attempt at a cover up.