An Augusta man accused of sexually assaulting a 76-year-old woman was denied bond Friday, July 15.
Franklin H. Clark Jr., 57, has been held in jail without bond since his June 24 arrest on a charge of aggravated sodomy. At the conclusion of a Richmond County Superior Court bond hearing Friday, Judge Jesse Stone denied bond for Clark based on the possibility he might intimidate witnesses.
The victim in the case told law enforcement officers that for several months when her daughter was away from the home where the three lived, Clark would force her into oral sex by using threats and violence.
She had repeatedly asked to be moved into a nursing home before disclosing to another relative what she had been enduring.
Friday, defense attorney Greg Gelpi asked the judge to grant bond for Clark who was a native of Augusta and a high school graduate who has maintained a long steady work history. He has no prior felony convictions, Gelpi said.
Clark has no felony convictions, but in 2003 he was charged with rape and kidnapping among other charges. He was acquitted by a Richmond County Superior Court jury of all charges in 2005.
The victim, who had told her daughter what Clark was doing, is now living with another relative.
Sandy Hodson is a staff reporter covering courts for The Augusta Press. Reach her at sandy@theaugustapress.com.
