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On September 26, 2018, a St. James Parish Jury found Gene Franklin of Lutcher, LA., age 34, guilty of 2^nd Degree Sexual Battery. Franklin was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Adam Koenig, and presiding over this matter was the Honorable Judge Tess Stromberg.

          On October 29, 2016, St. James Parish Sheriff’s detectives were dispatched to a residence in reference to a sexual battery. Upon making contact with the victim, detectives learned that Gene Franklin, after making sexual advances toward the victim and was denied, had inserted some type of object into the victim’s private area causing damage to her body. The victim advised that she wanted to pursue charges as this was not the first time she was abused after refusing to have intercourse with Franklin. Franklin was subsequently arrested and booked into the St. James Parish Jail.

          Upon the jury returning a guilty verdict in this matter, Judge Stromberg ordered that sentencing be deferred to a later date pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation.

          On June 24, 2019, Franklin appeared before Judge Stromberg for sentencing. Judge Stromberg ordered that Franklin be committed to the Louisiana Department of Corrections for a period of 15 years with credit for time served. The said sentence is to be served without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence. At the time of sentencing, the District Attorney’s Office noted the intention to file a habitual offender bill in this matter.

          On April 26, 2021, Franklin appeared before Judge Stromberg for re-sentencing. It was ordered that Franklin be committed to the Louisiana Department of Corrections for 30 years without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence. In addition, upon release from incarceration, Franklin will be required to register and notify as a sex offender for life.

 Submitted by Public Information Officer Tyler Cavalier for 23^rd Judicial District Attorney Ricky L. Babin.