Frank James Collins

Sources

1. Windy the Clown charged in sex case, UPI, March 28, 1986.

• 1. Windy the Clown charged in sex case

  • 28 Mar 1986
  • News article
  • UPI

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  KEARNEY, Neb. -- Frank Collins, known to children worldwide as 'Windy the Clown' from his appearances in motion pictures, circuses and amusement parks, has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a retarded man.

  Collins, 52, of Murray, Utah, was arrested Wednesday following his performance at a retail store in Kearney.

  The warrant alleges Collins sexually assaulted a 26-year-old mentally retared man in North Platte, Neb., in August 1985.

  Collins has been featured on television, in motion pictures, at Disneyland and Disney World and in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey and Shrine circuses in the past four years.

  He was also Utah's former 'Official Ambassador of Safety.' The safety ambassador is in charge of safety programs for children.

  Authorities said Collins has traveled throughtout the West and Midwest and in British Columbia, Canada, performing safety shows for children. He began his entertaining career at age 3 with the Family Collins, a trapeze act, investigators said.

  Police said the alleged victim was a student at a school for the handicapped where Collins had performed.

  Collins was being held in the Lincoln County jail pending a bond hearing, officials said. The felony charge carries a maximum sentence of 50 years in prison.