Assistant fire chief and family take pleas in San Pedro hit-and-run
A Los Angeles Fire Department assistant chief and his family pleaded no contest Wednesday to charges stemming from a San Pedro hit-and-run and an ensuing cover-up.
Robert Franco, 53, and his wife, Gerri Franco, 49, each pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor conspiracy count and were sentenced to 36 months probation and 30 days of community service, according to Frank Mateljan, a spokesman for the City Attorney's office. Their son, Richard Franco, 20, pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of hit-and-run. He also got 36 months probation and 30 days of community service for the state Department of Transportation, Mateljan said.
Richard Franco slammed his Toyota Tundra truck into two parked cars on 37th Street around 2 a.m. on Nov. 3. The truck flipped, and he immediately used his cellular telephone to call home, according to prosecutors. His parents arrived a few minutes later and Franco stayed while Mrs. Franco drove their son away. She soon returned and picked up her husband, and they left. However, they returned again minutes later and told responding emergency personnel that Mrs. Franco was behind the wheel.
The truth was learned from neighbors who witnessed the events, prosecutors said.
When charges were filed in May, a fire department spokesman said the department would not take any action against Franco until the criminal case was complete.
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Larry Altman has covered crime in the South Bay since 1990. He's seen it all - the missing model who turned up dead in the desert, the wives found dead in trunks, the high-school coaches who get a little too close to their players. He drives his young colleagues nuts with his "I remember when" stories. He welcomes your tips and observations about the present, and you can mix in a little Lakers basketball talk if you like.
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shocking
Well a bitter sweet outcome. Given the established facts of the case it's a shame that this public servant and his family (the apple doesn't fall far from the tree) don't have the values, decency, and morals to just come out and admit guilt.
How can we as the public put our trust in a person who doesn't admit to the crimes he and his family committed? Members of fire departments hold the highest trust of the community and are expected to give factual reports and analysis within the scope of their job-firefighters have to take lie detector tests in the hiring process for this reason.
As a nurse I find this family's response to the crimes they committing appalling and intolerable.
I'm in favor of severe penalty for this person and immediate firing from the department. How pathetic that he actually was able to rise in ranks in the fire department. If he is a role model then that makes me question the integrity of anyone who reports to him or who he has mentored- which is exactly why a severe penalty must be dealt to this individual to set an example and set him apart as an exception to the fire department. Anything short of that sends a clear message that his type of values are the rule in the fire department.
This clown Franco is the Assistant Fire Chief, this is the type of state employee California has!! He needs to be fired from the Fire Dept, take away his retirement and his benefits! This is starting to be typical for state and city employees,they are a bunch of crimminals!
Big Mo
East Side Torrance
Being a dedicated patriot from a volunteer fire fighting family, it's tough to digest that Robert Franco would be retained by an establishment I hold so high. It's also frightening knowing this family lives on the same street where my friends live. We have always donated to the Fire Dept, esp after 9-11, which I'll never forget, EVER, like many of you. I won't allow one horrible egg ruin my opinion of the loyal firefighters. In fact, if Franco was fired, I'd join up and want to volunteer my time, as my folks have done all their lives. Franco must be from the same bloodline as Glenn Johnson, the asst fire personnel who retired after crushing a 6mo.old German Shepherd puppy's skull, gouged it's eye out, and killed it, then sued it's owners, the Toole family, claiming his little finger had nerve damage. His finger had nerve damage from what, the huge rock he used to crush the puppy's skull? Coincidentally I hear Robert Franco and his wife hate dogs, so I hope these people stay away from my friends who rescue animals off the streets of San Pedro so criminals like them won't be able to kill them and leave them for dead.
I am trying to find out all i can about our family history and bloodline