Taylor County couple faces abuse charges

In 2012, a couple was accused of keeping their teenaged daughter confined in a chicken coop.

This week, a grand jury indicted Diane and Samuel Franklin on dozens of counts, mostly first-degree child cruelty and false imprisonment.

The indictment says the couple kept the girl at times in the chicken coop, an outhouse or a storage container.

It says the girl often did not have adequate clothes or food.

The couple allegedly used an electric dog collar to shock her, and Diane Franklin faces a charge of aggravated assault for allegedly attacking her with a pistol.

And in a new charge in the case, Samuel Franklin also faces three counts of child molestation.

No trial date has been set.

Their attorney, Kevin Bradley of Macon, said Friday he was not prepared to comment on the charges.

In 2012, he released a statement saying the Franklins denied mistreating their daughter.