Franklin Hot Springs Family Member Accused of Child Molestation

PASO ROBLES — A Paso Robles man whose family owns Franklin Hot Springs has allegedly molested three young family members.

According to the San Luis Obispo County Office, deputies arrested Leonard Ray Franklin, 69,  of Paso Robles for multiple charges of child molestation and child pornography.

Franklin allegedly abused the victims — now ages 3, 13, and 15 — multiple times over the course of the last decade, and used the 3-year-old to create child pornography.

As laid down by the the SLO District Attorney’s office, Franklin stands accused of molesting the 15-year-old for a period of six years and the 13-year-old for eight years.

Franklin, who has since pleaded not guilty, was booked into SLO County Jail with bail set at $2 million. He is due to reappear in court for a pretrial hearing on July 3.

Note: Earlier versions of the story have identified Leonard Franklin as a co-owner of Franklin Hot Springs. It bears noting that despite having spoken on behalf of the business and occasionally being referred to as a co-owner, a deed shows that he has never been an official co-owner. It has also been previously reported that Franklin resides on the business property, when in fact he merely lives on the same road.

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SLO Tribune: Man whose family owns Paso’s Franklin Hot Springs is accused of child molestation