A Florida court has upheld a 1000-year prison sentence for a man convicted of raping three woman when he was a juvenile.
According to the Florida Times-Union, the 1st District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee has upheld the sentence of Arthur O’Derrell Franklin, who was convicted of 20 felony charges. The charges included multiple counts of armed sexual battery, kidnapping, armed robbery and aggravated assault.
Franklin’s public defender argued that the now 48-year-old’s sentence for what he did when he 17 was unconstitutional.
Franklin addressed the court before he was sentenced.
“I would like to say I’m sorry about what happened to the victims. I wouldn’t mind getting another chance to prove I am a man and not an animal.”
His victims also spoke in court about what they went through three decades ago and how it has negatively impacted their lives.
A panel of judges sided with the three women and said that the sentence can stand because Franklin is eligible for parole.
The New York Daily News noted that decision will ultimately be up to the Florida Parole Commission to decide if Franklin should be let out early. However, he has not yet had a parole hearing and must serve his prison time for now.