A Hays County Jury Monday sentenced a San Marcos man to two life sentences plus 1,000 years in prison after he was convicted of sexually abusing his stepdaughters over a period of time.
Robert Benjamin Franks, 39, of San Marcos, was convicted of continuous sexual abuse, aggravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child that arose from a pattern of abuse against two children over several years, according to a Hays County press release.
The jury trial began Nov. 13 with deliberations Nov. 27. The jury took about an hour before delivering a guilty verdict on all 17 counts against Franks.
During testimony in the trial, Franks’ 9-year-old stepdaughter, who was not identified by her full name, testified that Franks did “disgusting things” to her while she was in Franks’ home, which included various sex acts. The victim said Franks did not engage in sexual intercourse with her.
The victim’s 10-year-old stepsister originally denied any sexual contact with Franks. After the stepsister was taken to a sexual assault nursing examiner, she also alleged similar sexual incidents. The stepsister also said Franks had been abusing her for years, even before the vitime came to live with Franks.
During a short punishment hearing, the jury heard from Franks’ adult cousin who accused him of sexually assaulting her on two different occasions when she was a minor.
Franks was sentenced to 99 years on nine counts of aggravated sexual assault, and 20 years on six counts of indecency with a child, along with $93,000 in fines. Judge Jack Robison, who presided over the trial, pronounced the sentences be served concurrently.
“Words cannot really express the depth of the betrayal and outrage warranted by conduct like this, committed by a man who should have been caring for and protecting these children,” Hays County District Attorney Wes Mau said. “The jury’s sentence speaks more eloquently than I can to make clear how our community feels about crimes like these.”
