Tallmadge - A bus aide in the Tallmadge School district arrested and facing sex charges.
On February 25th Tallmadge Police, with the assistance of the US Marshall’s Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force arrested 32-year-old Howard T. Franklin Jr. on four counts of gross sexual imposition and five counts of attempt gross sexual imposition.
In September of 2019, Franklin was employed as a bus aide on school buses which transported students for Tallmadge Schools. Allegations arose of inappropriate touching of young students. Franklin was terminated from his employment in September. The subsequent investigation resulted in the criminal charges which are enhanced because the victims are under 13 years of age.
Gross sexual imposition is a third-degree felony which carries a mandatory prison term.
It was determined that five juvenile girls between the ages of six and nine were touched on the outside of their clothing, resulting in the charges.
Franklin is incarcerated in the Summit County Jail and is being held on a $500,000 cash bond following his initial appearance before Stow Municipal Court.
Photos courtesy of The Tallmadge Police Department
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