A former Franklin priest, Juan Carlos Garcia Mendoza, pleaded guilty to multiple child sex abuse charges, including continuous sexual abuse of a child, aggravated sexual battery, and sexual battery by an authority figure. He was sentenced to seven years in federal prison, removed from his position at St. Philip Catholic Church, and must relinquish his priesthood.

Upon release, he will register as a sex offender and be under lifelong community supervision. The investigation was led by Franklin Police Department detective Andrea Clark, with prosecution by Deputy District Attorney Jennifer.