Hearing on Joplin man's appeal on child molestation, sodomy, rape convictions scheduled

 The Missouri Southern District Court of Appeals will hear a Joplin man's appeal of his 628-year sentence on child molestation, statutory sodomy, rape and weapons charges.

The hearing for Daniel F. Franklin, 63, is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday at the John Q. Hammons Office Building in Springfield.

A Jasper County jury convicted Franklin June 14, 2021 on two counts of child molestation, three counts of statutory sodomy, three counts of statutory rape, and single counts of enticement of a child and unlawful use of a weapon.

Judge Dean Dankelson sentenced Franklin to 99 years on each of the statutory rape and statutory sodomy charges, 30 years on each of the child molestation charges, 30 years on the enticement charge and four years on the weapons charge with several of the charges set to run consecutively.