BENTON – A Franklin County jury Friday found a Mulkeytown man guilty of seven counts of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child against three separate child victims.

Franklin County State’s Attorney Abby Dinn says 61-year-old Charles “Charlie” Parvin will be sentenced in November. The convictions carry a penalty of mandatory life in prison due to the number of children assault.

Dinn says on April 27, 2021, one of the three child victims told her mother that Parvin, a family member, sexually assaulted her and another family member of the same age when they spent Fridays at his house while school was out due to Covid restrictions. The second victim quickly confirmed this.

Later that evening, an older female child in the family said Parvin molested her as well, specifically when she was in the second grade. The parents, concerned for their children, immediately called  Department of Children and Family Services. Early the next morning, the parents of all three child victims reported the sexual assaults to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. Two sheriff’s investigators conducted a swift and directed investigation into the allegations. Within days they contacted State’s Attorney Abby Dinn and seven counts were filed as a result of that investigation. An arrest warrant for Parvin was issued.

Parvin surrendered himself to the sheriff’s office on May 4, 2021 and has been in custody since then. His trial began on Sept. 3 after trial settings were continued several times over the years mostly on Parvin’s motions.