A 20-year-old Franklin man is facing rape, sodomy and grooming charges after police say he had sexual contact with a child under 12 and was allegedly waiting for a Plan B pill to be delivered when officers responded to a report of a suspicious person near a mailbox on Saturday, Oct. 31.
Joaquin Heath was identified as the adult male found near the mailbox, according to WNKY. The outlet reported that the Franklin Police Department was called out due to the suspicious-person report, and that officers determined Heath was allegedly waiting for the delivery of a Plan B pill after allegedly having sex with a minor.
According to the station's report, investigators said Heath had allegedly been speaking with the minor through Snapchat and discussing sex before the alleged encounter. Authorities also said Heath confirmed he knew the minor's age at the time of the alleged sexual contact, per the same account.
Charges Filed Against Heath
Heath was charged with procuring or promoting the use of a minor by electronic means, child grooming of a victim under 12 years old, second-degree rape and second-degree sodomy, the article notes. He remains held at the Simpson County Jail, WNKY reported.
Kentucky's criminal code lists a statute titled Grooming a minor under KRS 510.160, while a separate provision, KRS 510.155, addresses the unlawful use of electronic means originating or received within the Commonwealth to induce a minor into sexual or other prohibited conduct. The two remaining charges reported against Heath correspond to statutes titled Rape in the second degree, KRS 510.050, and Sodomy in the second degree, KRS 510.080.
What Remains Unknown
No independent police report, arrest record, indictment or court filing beyond WNKY's account has been made public, and the exact age of the minor involved has not been disclosed. Details such as Heath's attorney, any bond conditions, a plea or an upcoming court date have likewise not been reported.
