Sex abuse suspects reject plea offers
Two men, charged in separate sex abuse cases, rejected plea offers Monday and said they wanted to go to trial in Fayette County court. Jesus Franklin, 29, of 27 Wilson Ave., Uniontown, is charged with two counts each of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and indecent assault and one count each of aggravated indecent assault and corruption of minors.
State police allege that he assaulted a 14-year-old girl at his home and at a North Union Township residence between December 1999 and Nov. 9, 2001.
The teen-age victim told police that Franklin used to come into her room and lock the door after her mother left for work. Then, she said, he would assault her. The girl told police she did not report the abuse earlier because Franklin threatened to break her neck and inflict other bodily harm. She told police on Nov. 12, 2001.
When police interviewed Franklin later that day, he denied abusing the teen and said they got along well until she entered her teen-age years.
Franklin is represented by the public defenders office.
In an unrelated case, Charles A. Shanaberger rejected a plea of nine to 23 months in prison with a consecutive two-year term of probation for allegedly sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl last Dec. 31.
Shanaberger’s attorney, Daniel Webster, said that he was still in plea negotiations with special child abuse prosecutor Jack R. Heneks Jr.
Shanaberger, 31, of 116 Laura St., Smithfield, allegedly assaulted the girl while she was staying at his home.
He is charged with indecent assault and endangering the welfare of a child. The proposed plea was to indecent assault.