Parolee Accused Of Robbing 5 San Gabriel Valley Banks, Leading Police Chase
WEST COVINA (CBS) — A parolee accused of robbing five banks and leading police on a chase while fleeing the latest robbery is scheduled to appear in court Thursday.
Jerry Lee Franklin, 39, is scheduled to appear in West Covina Superior Court on five counts of second-degree robbery and one count of evading police, Deputy District Attorney Michael Matoba said.
Franklin is accused of holding up banks throughout the San Gabriel Valley. He allegedly held up a U.S. Bank in Hacienda Heights on July 6, a Bank of the West in Rowland Heights on July 12 and again on Jan. 11 of this year, a Citibank in Rowland Heights on Jan. 14 and the First Federal Credit Union in West Covina on April 23.
It was after the West Covina heist that Franklin allegedly led police on a chase along the 10 and 605 freeways, slowing his white van at one point so that a woman could climb in.
Police arrested Franklin by unleashing a dog on him when he stopped the van near Whittier Boulevard and Penn Street in Whittier.
Franklin, who had been jailed on a parole hold since he was arrested, is facing more than 24 years in prison if convicted as charged, the District Attorney's office said.
Charges will not be filed against Franklin's girlfriend, Yvonne Jeanette Farano of Whittier, because of a lack of evidence of her intent to assist in the robbery or his attempt to flee from police.
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