A Round Rock man has been convicted of indecency with a minor, specifically a 15-year-old transgender teenager, and is facing a decade behind bars. John Frank Scheer, 42, was found guilty by a Williamson County jury this week and has been slammed with a 10-year sentence in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Institutional Division. Details provided reveal that the victim, whom Scheer knew and held in trust, reported the incident to a teen crisis hotline back in early September 2021, stated by CBS Austin
The hotline's intervention quickly escalated the case to Texas Child Protective Services, leading to Scheer's arrest by Round Rock police officers on November 5, 2021. The child's brave step to call for help was the catalyst in bringing the incident to light and the eventual prosecution of Scheer, as reported by FOX 7 Austin.
Williamson County District Attorney Shawn Dick commended the victim's bravery and the prosecutors' and investigators' diligence in the case. Dick said, "I am grateful for the jury’s verdict holding the defendant accountable and their thoughtful and deliberative sentence, which took into account the victim’s wishes, the community impact, and the public’s safety.” The District Attorney emphasized the commitment of his office to protect "the rights and dignity of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity," in a statement obtained by CBS Austin.
