RANKIN COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) – A Brandon man pled guilty to attempted escape and simple assault on a law enforcement officer.

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett said Franky Lee Lovern, Sr., 54, of Brandon, was sentenced to two concurrent terms of five years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC).

According to Bramlett, the sentences will be served consecutively to the 30 year sentence Lovern began serving after a Rankin County jury found him guilty of sexual battery of a child and gratification of lust in October 2024.

The new convictions were the result of Lovern’s assault of a Rankin County deputy and attempted escaped as he was being taken into custody after the guilty verdicts were returned. After he was handcuffed, authorities said Lovern tried to grab the deputy’s gun, and a struggled ensued.

Deputies were able to subdue Lovern to prevent his escape.