A Middle Georgia man has been convicted of race-based hate crimes after threatening a federal postal worker and hitting the worker’s mail delivery vehicle with his tractor.
William Charles Franklin, 36, of Tennille, Georgia, was found guilty on Tuesday of four federal charges, including aggravated assault upon a federal officer, court records show. On Wednesday, a federal jury in Macon added a hate crime sentencing enhancement on all but one of the charges.
Franklin, who is white, faces more than 20 years in prison after two encounters with a Black U.S. Postal Service letter carrier serving the Washington County area. His sentencing date has yet to be determined.
“The letter carrier told investigators that Franklin threatened to punch his face, run him over with Franklin’s tractor and call someone else to come to the location to bring a rope so that Franklin could ‘drag’ him away,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia said in a news release Thursday. “A family member corroborated that Franklin called to request a rope.”
Franklin’s attorney did not immediately respond to an inquiry about the case.
The conflict started in June 2024, according to Franklin’s December 2024 indictment.
Prosecutors said Franklin argued with the letter carrier about moving the letter carrier’s vehicle. The letter carrier, referred to in the indictment as “D.W.,” allegedly recorded Franklin using racial slurs.
In December 2024, the letter carrier was in his vehicle when it was hit by Franklin’s tractor, which also destroyed a stop sign, prosecutors said. They said Franklin’s tractor was found freshly damaged in a nearby field by sheriff’s deputies, its engine still warm.
“The letter carrier observed the tractor come towards the USPS vehicle, and he pulled over to allow the tractor to pass,” prosecutors said Thursday in the news release. “Two witnesses reported seeing a vehicle registered to Franklin’s wife come to the area immediately following the incident at a high rate of speed.”
Federal agents found a picture of the letter carrier on Franklin’s phone and additional evidence that Franklin’s crimes “were motivated, at least in part, by the race and color of the letter carrier,” prosecutors said. They said Franklin was arrested on Dec. 6, when he was carrying a loaded pistol and had two AR-15-style rifles inside his truck.
“Violent, hate-filled attacks against federal employees and residents of the Middle District of Georgia will not be tolerated,” Acting U.S. Attorney Shanelle Booker said in the news release.
Washington County Sheriff Joel Cochran said he’s proud the county’s “diverse citizenry” works together for the good of the community.
“I am disappointed when I learn of criminal behavior motivated by racial animus,” he said. “I hope this conviction and sentence sends a clear message that those who commit such crimes will be held accountable and such behavior will not be tolerated.”
Franklin was found guilty of obstruction of mail, assault upon a federal officer, aggravated assault upon a federal officer and retaliating against a witness. The hate crime sentencing enhancement was applied to all but the obstruction charge.
Prosecutors also indicted Stefany Morris Franklin, who was charged with being an accessory to Franklin’s crimes by “removing him from the scene” in an effort to avoid his prosecution. The court dismissed the charge against her during trial.
Franklin had pleaded not guilty to his four charges in December and was denied bail, court records show.
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