Frankie Lee Jones, 49, was handed three concurrent sentences for a total of 45 years after being convicted of molesting a 6-year-old girl. The sentences include 45 years for aggravated sexual assault, 15 years for one count of indecency with a child by contact and another 18 years for a second count of indecency with a child by contact. Jones will be eligible for parole after serving 22 and a half years in prison, which is half of his sentence.
Jones' attorney, Roger Moss, said he and Jones were disappointed in the jury's verdict, adding that he expected Jones would appeal the case some time next week.
"He has maintained his innocence (throughout)," Moss said.
An Angelina County jury, of eight men and four women, convicted Jones Wednesday on the three counts after deliberating for more than four hours. The jury found him not guilty on a one count of aggravated sexual assault of a child.
The girl, now age 8, testified Tuesday Jones placed a bandage on her thigh after her brother walked in and saw the two on a bed. Her brother took the stand Monday and told jurors he saw Jones licking his sister's private area. After Jones realized he was in the room, the boy said Jones pretended to doctor her leg with a bandage and then got up and cooked them breakfast.
Jones and his wife often cared for the girl and her older brother while their mother attended college and worked two jobs, according to testimony.
During the punishment phase of the trial Thursday, Jones' former probation officer testified Jones failed four drug tests, testing positive for cocaine each time, while he served a felony three-year deferred adjudication sentence for assaulting his wife. The drug tests were administered as a part of his probation sentence. Jones was serving felony probation after having been placed on misdemeanor probation twice before for the same charge, the officer said.
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