Niece, 10, Raped By 60-Year-Old Who Is Sentenced To Life

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA — A grand-uncle, 60 years old at the time, molested and raped his niece, 10 years old at the time, and has been sentenced to life in prison, according to the Gwinnett County District Attorney's Office.

Franklin Gilmer, 71, was convicted of rape, statutory rape and child molestation June 18 in a one-day trial. The name of the victim is being withheld due to age considerations.

On Sept. 8, 2009, Gwinnett County Police investigators met with the victim at the Gwinnett Police Headquarters. The victim, 21 years old at the time, reported that she had been raped and molested by her grand-uncle. She claimed that the incident took place during Labor Day weekend of 1998 at her Aunt’s apartment in Lawrenceville, GA.

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She victim had disclosed previously to her parents when she was 14, but they did not report the incident to law enforcement out of desire to protect the family. When the victim turned 21, she felt she could take control of her life and needed closure, thereby prompting the report to law enforcement.

The victim stated that on the day of the incident, all family members other than Gilmer and the victim left to purchase supplies for a poolside party at the neighborhood. The defendant lured the victim to play a “body-part labeling game of A-B-C’s.”

Gilmer eventually got to the alphabet portion “V” and had the victim take off her pants and inserted his penis into her vagina.

Gilmer justified the act by telling the victim this would be a special secret between the two and that this is what her parents did as adults.

Ultimately, Gilmer finished the act and the family members returned and the festivities began and concluded as planned.

The Police followed up by interviewing Gilmer. Gilmer categorically denied the allegations. At the time of the interview Gilmer was serving a sentence in federal prison for possession of child pornography.

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