A man convicted in 2022 of stabbing an Effingham County deputy is up for parole this month.
Case & Trial
Franklin Hope Johnson was arrested in 2016 after stabbing Sergeant Danny Harrington nine times as Harrington and three other deputies with the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office attempted to execute a 1013 order filed by Johnson’s grandparents. Harrington knocked on the door and, within seconds, was attacked by a knife-wielding Johnson. The scuffle that followed involved a violent attack on Harrington by Johnson that stopped only after a lengthy scuffle with the other deputies, the use of multiple pairs of handcuffs, and two Taser deployments after Johnson tried to take Harrington’s service weapon. Sergeant Harrington was life-flighted to Memorial Hospital in Savannah with injuries to his head, shoulders, and back.
After an investigation by the GBI, Johnson was charged for the assault and a grand jury later indicted him on twelve felony counts:
- Criminal Attempt to Commit a Felony (Murder) OCGA § 16-4-6(a) – 1-30 years
- Aggravated Battery (2 counts) OCGA § 16-5-24(c)(1) – 10-20 years for each count
- Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer (2 counts) OCGA § 16-5-21(c)(1) – 5-20 years for each count
- Aggravated Assault (2 counts) OCGA § 16-5-21 – 1-20 years for each count
- Obstruction of an Officer (Felony) OCGA § 16-10-24(b) 1-5 years
- Attempted Removal of a Weapon from a Public Officer (2 counts) OCGA § 16-10-33 – 1-5 years with up to $10,000 fine for each count.
- Possession of a Knife During Commission of a Felony (2 counts) OCGA § 16-11-106(b) – 5 years confinement consecutive to any other sentenced imposed for the act – for each count
In 2022, his case was tried before a jury, which convicted him on each and every count after a brief deliberation.
At sentencing, Johnson’s attorney, Lloyd Murray, asked the court to give him a sentence of probation only saying “It goes without saying, Franklin Johnson never had any intention of hurting anyone.” Johnson’s mother asked the justice system to “grow a heart” and cited Johnson’s Crohn’s diagnosis as justification for no prison time.” Contrarily, Assistant District Attorney Matt Breedon asked for Johnson to be sentenced to the maximum – 65 years in prison.
Breedon said, “The jury found that the act was intentional or intentional after stopping his medications and using illegal substances. This isn’t about mental health, it’s about the defendant’s choices. He’s shown zero acceptance of responsibility and no one in his family wants to accept responsibility for his acts.”
Ultimately, Johnson was sentenced to serve 15 years confinement followed by forty years on probation. Johnson was given credit for time served in the jail before his trial.
Parole Eligibility
The parole eligibility date for Johnson is listed on the public portal as February 2025. While the final decision still remains to be made by the board, Johnson could be released as soon as February 7, 2025 – the next meeting of the board.

Though the date is not official, Johnson is currently serving time at a step down transitional center in Columbus, according to the Georgia Department of Corrections. Transitional Centers, according to GDC, are “community residential services [for] inmates before their discharge or parole from incarceration.”
If released on Friday, Johnson will have served 31 months in prison in addition to the five years he spent in the Effingham County Jail awaiting court action after his arrest. He will still serve the forty-year probation sentence through 2065.
According to their website, the Georgia Board of Pardons and Parole is supposed to consider the input from the victim in the case, Johnson’s behavior behind bars, other factors from the initial investigation, and the impact on public safety. The Board notifies the District Attorney’s Office roughly six months prior to a TPM date to seek feedback from the office and again 90 days before possible release for victim input. Much of that information is not accessible to the public, as parole investigations and proceedings are private, but the public can contact the Board.
Those wishing to contact the parole board can do so by contacting the Board at GaParoleBoard@pap.ga.gov or by calling (404) 656-4661.
Current Board Members:
- Chairman David J. Herring
- Vice Chair Meg Heap
- Member Joyette Holmes
- Member Wayne V. Bennett
- Member Robert Markley
You can read stories on the entire trial and sentencing below
Trial Day 1
Trial Day 2
Trial Day 3 – Jury Verdict
Sentencing