FRANKLIN, Ind. (WRTV) -- A 72-year-old man was sentenced to 12 years in a state prison on Aug. 21, 2026, in Franklin after pleading guilty to child molesting, and battery on a person younger than 14.Richard Stahl, 72, of Trafalg ar, received the sentence from Johnson Circuit Judge Andrew Roesener.The investigation began after a child told a trusted adult at school about the abuse, court records show. Two other children later spoke about abuse during the Johnson County Sheriffs Department investigation.When authorities confronted an adult relative of one of the children, Stahl admitted to the abuse.Police learned Stahl was not a relative of the children, but they would go over to his house several times a month, court documents said.During the sentencing, the judge heard testimony describing how Stahl used his position of trust to groom the children and abuse them repeatedly until they finally told someone what was happening.The judge imposed an aggravated sentence, which increased the punishment beyond the standard range.Johnson County Prosecutor Lance Hamner said in a statement that he was pleased with the sentence, noting that the bravery of the children who spoke out about the abuse from a trusted family friend allowed authorities to end the harm. ...read more read less