A 47-year-old Turlock man was convicted last week of multiple charges of molestation for molesting his stepdaughters and niece.

Anthony Conklin, 47, was convicted of felony charges of lewd and lascivious conduct with a child under the age of 14 with two separate victims and one count of lewd and lascivious conduct with a child aged 14 or 15. Conklin now faces the maximum sentence of 48 years to life in state prison.

Conklin, the victims’ stepfather, lived with the two girls and their mother in Turlock and began molesting them in 2004, when the older victim was 11 and the younger was 9.

The molestation continued for six years, until the younger victim was 15. In 2011, the younger victim reported the molestations to a family friend.

Following the first report, Conklin’s niece came forward, reporting that she had been molested by Conklin between the ages of 6 and 8. A few months later, the other stepdaughter reported Conklin’s abuse to a friend.

Since the jury found Conklin guilty of committing certain sex crimes against multiple victims and was therefore eligible for the “one strike” sentencing laws.

Judge Nancy Ashley has scheduled a sentencing hearing on April 7. The case was prosecuted by Deputy Attorney Merrill Hoult.