A Bayfield community leader was sentenced in January to 12 months’ probation for criminal mischief with a domestic violence background.
Lech Usinowicz, a former music teacher with the Bayfield School District, is also the founder of the Be FRANK Foundation, a nonprofit that partners with school districts in the region to expand access to music programs. Usinowicz says he has worked with thousands of students through those programs.
The self-taught bassist plays with the San Juan Symphony.
He was arrested Aug. 18, 2023, by Bayfield Marshal’s deputies after a third party reported a disturbance. The third party was on the phone with Usinowicz’s on-again, off-again partner.
Deputies observed Usinowicz smash something with an ax, and later discovered the item to be the victim’s cellphone. Usinowicz was placed in custody and arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor assault, criminal mischief and domestic violence. The victim was taken to the hospital “for a medical clearance,” according to the arrest affidavit.
He pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal mischief in November and was sentenced to 12 months’ probation.
At a hearing on probation Tuesday, 6th Judicial District Magistrate Judge Sarah Law appeared happy to hear that Usinowicz was abiding by the terms of his probation.
Usinowicz, who appeared on crutches as a result of a recent knee surgery, told the judge that “things are going really well.”
In an interview outside the courthouse, Usinowicz said he was working hard to put past mistakes behind him and examine the behavior that led him there.
“First and foremost, I apologize to the victim, to the victim’s family, my family and to the community that has invested or has put so much trust behind me,” he said.
Usinowicz founded the Be FRANK Foundation, where he has served as executive director since the organization’s founding in 2013.
Bayfield School District Superintendent Leon Hanhardt said Usinowicz has not been employed by the school district since 2020 and that the Be Frank Foundation has not run programs at Bayfield schools in several years.
Usinowicz said he voluntarily asked the Colorado Department of Education to review his teaching license after his sentencing. When the department declined, saying he was not due for review until 2026, he deactivated and then reactivated his own license to trigger a review.
“Within 48 hours of me submitting all criminal records, the Colorado Department of Education determined that I can teach at any school in this state with a teaching license,” he said.
According to DOE records, Usinowicz has an active teaching license effective March 31, 2024 – two years before his last license was likely set to expire.
A Be FRANK Foundation board member declined to comment about the matter. Usinowicz said he was placed on paid administrative leave by the organization in January, but declined to say whether he had returned. He also said the nonprofit had conducted its own internal investigation and plans to issue a report next week.
Usinowicz said he would share a copy of the report with The Durango Herald, or at least a summary of the report, once it is released.
David Albrechta, a Durango employment attorney representing Usinowicz, said he had not read the report but was under the impression that Usinowicz’s personal life stumbles had not impacted him in a professional capacity.
“I was present for an interview and I’m confident that nothing happened at work,” Albrechta said.
Usinowicz said he has been on paid administrative leave from the foundation since January.
rschafir@durangoherald.com
