CLEARFIELD – A Clearfield man accused of sexually assaulting several girls pleaded guilty Wednesday in Clearfield County Court.
Franklin William Wilson, 42, pleaded guilty to 12 counts of rape-forcible compulsion, 12 counts of aggravated indecent assault, 10 counts of statutory sexual assault and 12 counts of dissemination explicit sexual material to minors in one case and aggravated indecent assault in a second case. Judge Paul Cherry sentenced him to a total of 18 years to 60 years in state prison.
It was noted that a Megan’s Law assessment had been completed in this case. The defense stipulated to the findings in the report that determined Wilson is a sexually violent predator. He will have to register his address with law enforcement for the rest of his life.
These charges stem from incidents involving six different victims over a period of almost 15 years. Originally he was charged with over 1,200 various counts of sex crimes involving young girls.
An investigation into Wilson began in 2015 after he touched a 10-year-old girl inappropriately, exposed himself to her and showed her online pornography on his phone, according to the affidavit of probable cause. Afterwards, he told her not to tell her mother.
A search warrant was issued for the phone, which was seized and examined for evidence. A detective was able to find the images the girl described as well as numerous pornographic images. He had viewed hundreds of adult websites.
As the investigation continued, an officer found another report from Children & Youth Services involving Wilson. When this victim was interviewed, she stated that he abused her beginning when she was only six years old.
This abuse started with him touching her inappropriately while she was in the bathroom. Because of this, the girl was terrified of going into the bathroom and chose to urinate and defecate in a shed. She did not tell anyone of the abuse and this behavior led to her being sent away for counseling.
As the years passed, the abuse became more serious and violent. When she had friends around, this victim said Wilson would abuse them as well. He forced them to be involved in sexual acts or they were not permitted to have food or drinks. He also showed them pornography.
This victim said the abuse escalated when she was in fifth grade. He showed her pornography of a woman performing oral sex on a male, and then he forced her to do the same. As she got older, he had sex with her almost every single day.
She was frightened that he was going to hurt her or her family. She found bullets in her drawers, a knife in her dresser drawer, and razor blades on the headboard of her bed, she said.
Officers were able to contact the other girls the victim had named and interviewed them. One of them said he was perverted and inappropriate towards them. He would touch them as they slept and she was afraid to tell anyone because he threatened to kill them, she said.
The fourth victim said he showed them pornography and had sexual contact with them. A fifth girl said he made her touch the victim inappropriately as he made them watch pornography. She said she is terrified of Wilson. The final victim said he offered money to see her naked in the shower. He also made her and the others watch pornography before being able to use a four-wheeler.
Police attempted to set up an interview to discuss these accusations with Wilson, but he failed to show up for the interview or contact the investigating officer.