Penn Jr. Found Guilty of Numerous Crimes Involving Child Pornography

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that a Duval County jury found Franklin Penn Jr. guilty of Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance / Sexual Performance by a Child — 10 or More Images; Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child / Sexual Performance by a Child — 10 or More Images; and 14 counts of Possession of Photographs/Sexual Performance by a Child — 10 or More Images. With the verdict, Penn Jr. faces up to life in Florida State Prison. The Honorable Jonathan Sacks will sentence Penn Jr. at a later date.

Penn Jr. was arrested Aug. 15, 2023, for Capital Sexual Battery and other sexually motivated crimes against two minors. During that arrest, the victims told law enforcement that Penn Jr. took illicit photos of them. A search warrant was issued for Penn Jr.’s residence and uncovered personal computers, laptops, external hard drives, and cellphones. A forensic review of those items uncovered 29,000 images of child sexual abuse.

The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Marleigh Gulliford and Joy Whitmore.