CLINTON —
A Clinton man will serve as many as 20 years in prison.
Michael Franzen, 26, was sentenced Thursday for lascivious acts with a child, a class C felony. His probation from a 2009 homicide by vehicle conviction was also revoked. The sentencing followed a June 7 plea agreement.
Judge Charles Pelton handed down a sentence of not to exceed 10 years in prison and a fine of $10,000 for the lascivious acts with a child charge. Franzen will also be required to register as a sex offender for life and will be on parole for life. He will also serve as much as 10 years in prison for the revocation of his probation on the homicide by vehicle conviction.
Defense attorney Phil Ramirez requested that the two sentences be served concurrently, despite the fact it was stipulated in the plea agreement that they would run consecutively.
He told the court that Franzen has faced many difficulties in his life, especially related to substance abuse. Ramirez said his client wants a chance to rehabilitate himself while still having a future. He referenced Franzen’s young age.
“He has a full life ahead of him,” Ramirez said.
Pelton, however, chose to make the two sentences consecutive. He explained that while he has sympathy for Franzen’s circumstances and understands he has had a difficult life, the charges are truly heinous ones.
“But he’s also made a number of mistakes,” Pelton said. He pointed out that previous attempts for rehabilitation have been unsuccessful.
“And all of a sudden his personal problems have become society’s problems,” Pelton said.
On June 7, Franzen admitted in court to fondling a 7-year-old female in October.
This original charge was sexual abuse in the second degree, a class B felony. At the time of the plea agreement, Assistant County Attorney Ross Barlow explained that after discussing the case with the victim’s family, a plea was the best solution for all parties.
Franzen received a suspended prison sentence in September 2009 of up to 10 years in prison for pleading guilty to the class C felony of homicide by vehicle for a Jan. 29, 2009, crash that killed his friend, William Ziegler-Bounds, of Albany, Ill. At the time of the plea, Franzen admitted to drinking three shots of peppermint Schnapps and a beer prior to the accident, which occurred at 1:20 a.m. in the 900 block of South Third Street.
Franzen also was fined $1,000, which was suspended, and ordered to pay $150,000 restitution to Ziegler-Bounds’ estate. He also was ordered to serve 120 days in the Clinton County Jail and pay a fine of $1,250 for a charge of operating while intoxicated, first offense.
Local News
July 6, 2012
Clinton man will spend up to 20 years in prison
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