Angelina Co. jury gives child molester a 45-year sentence

LUFKIN — 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.

Steven Alford/The Lufkin Daily News (enlarge photo) Frankie Lee Jones leaves the Angelina County Courthouse Thursday after a jury sentenced him to 45 years in prison for molesting a 6-year-old girl. He is required to serve half that sentence before eligible for parole.

"I feel the jury did a really good job and I appreciate their hard work," said Angelina County District Attorney Clyde Herrington who prosecuted the case.

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 child's mother said Wednesday she was "absolutely relieved" the jury found Jones guilty, and thanked her friends and family for sticking behind her.

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.

Moss said statements the children made during an earlier hearing did not match their testimony this week. During cross-examination, the boy said his memory about the incident was not as good as it was before. Prior to this week, the boy testified he first told Jones' wife about the abuse. On Tuesday, he said he first told his aunt. The three were all attending a ball game together when he first told someone.

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.

Jones and his probation officer had talked about him attending a drug treatment facility when police arrested him in June 2006 for sexually abusing a 6-year-old girl, the officer said. Jones had tested positive for cocaine six days after he molested the child, according to testimony.

Visiting Judge Paul C. Murphy, a retired 14th district Criminal Court of Appeals judge, presided over the case.

The Lufkin Daily News does not publish the names of victims of sexual abuse, nor does it publish names of those whose relationship to the victim would identify them, such as parents or siblings.