Sex Offender Arrested for Violating Probation for Fourth Time
Registered sex offender Bhaktivinode Franklin was arrested on Tuesday for violating his probation. Franklin’s probation officer found that he did not submit to his curfew and failed to comply with electronic monitoring.
On July 13, 2012, Franklin was found guilty of two counts of lewd and lascivious behavior, one count of violating a stalking injunction, and one count of contributing to the dependency of a minor. He was sentenced to ten years in prison with 487 days time served, followed by two years of sex offender community control, followed by three years of sex offender probation and five years of probation.
This isn’t the first time Franklin has violated his probation.
Franklin was released early in September 2019 and had multiple warrants issued a few months after for failing to comply with electronic monitoring. Despite this, Franklin bonded out and was permitted to continue with his probation with the modification that he be allowed to have increased contact with minors.
On January 6, 2021, Franklin made a motion to modify his special probation condition that forbade him from having unsupervised contact with minors.
After Franklin was released, he began employment with Ridgway Roof Truss Company but was reportedly fired due to a workplace injury. Franklin’s probation officer encouraged him to start his own business, Lotus Renovations and Repair LLC.
Franklin moved “for an order of modification of community control that will allow him to perform handyman work at residences when minor children are present along with their parents. While the defendant is not seeking to have physical contact or engage in conversation with any minor children, their mere presence could constitute contact, and the defendant is concerned that this potential contact could constitute a violation of probation. At no time will the defendant perform handyman work at a residence without an adult present. Moreover, every individual who employs the defendant is knowledgeable of the defendant's probation and charges of conviction. Additionally, the defendant's probation may at any time contact any person for whom the defendant performs work.”
Judge James Colaw granted Franklin’s motion.
On June 18, 2022, Franklin was arrested and charged with misdemeanor domestic battery. Franklin shoved the victim to the ground and stuffed dirt in her mouth in front of two neighbors who witnessed the attack. The victim had markings on her face. Franklin stated, “Yes, I made her eat dirt, and I would do it again…. I shoved dirt in her mouth so she could see what meth taste like.”
Franklin was convicted and permitted to continue his probation after spending 90 days in jail with 40 days credit for time served.
On February 6, 2023, Franklin was arrested for not complying with his probation-mandated curfew. Franklin was permitted to continue with his probation.
On January 3, 2025, Franklin’s warrant was filed for his current probation violation case. Franklin has an arraignment scheduled for January 29.
Franklin’s name came up in a previous GnvInfo article when he was legally considered one of the victims in Thomas Ray’s property damage case. Ray found that Franklin was hanging around with his children and ex and believed they were going to move away. Ray was arrested for slashing their tires.
