Filed 10/24/13 P. v. Franklin CA4/1
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COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
THE PEOPLE, D063871
Plaintiff and Respondent,
v. (Super. Ct. No. SCN309838)
ROXANA FRANKLIN,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of San Diego County,
Kathleen M. Lewis, Judge. Affirmed.
Janice R. Mazur, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
No appearance for Plaintiff and Respondent.
Roxana Franklin was convicted, following a court trial, of exhibiting a firearm in a
threatening manner against an occupant of a motor vehicle (Pen. Code,1 § 417.3). The
court also found Franklin personally used a firearm in the commission of the offense
1 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise specified
(§ 1192.7, subd. (c)(8)). The court granted Franklin probation subject to 180 days
custody, to be served in the electronic surveillance program in lieu of jail.
Franklin filed a timely notice of appeal.
Counsel has filed a brief pursuant to People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436
(Wende) and Anders v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 738 (Anders) raising a possible, but
not arguable issue. We offered Franklin the opportunity to file her own brief on appeal,
but she has not responded.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
This conviction arises out of an incident of "road rage." At about 1:00 p.m., on
September 4, 2012, William Porter was driving on Interstate 5 in his red station wagon.
He noticed a blue Mercedes pass him at a high rate of speed. Both Porter and the
Mercedes exited on the eastbound ramp to Highway 78.
A short distance away, according to Porter, the Mercedes, driven by Franklin,
pulled next to him. Franklin rolled down her window and said, "You are an asshole."
Porter said he made no response and the Mercedes drove away.
Porter again encountered the Mercedes and then rolled down his window and
called Franklin an "ugly bitch." Franklin responded angrily, "fuck you."
As the encounter continued, Porter said he pulled over and the Mercedes pulled
next to him. The driver was yelling obscenities. The woman in the passenger seat said
"Roxy, let it go."
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Porter drove forward but said the Mercedes again pulled next to him. Franklin
produced a leather wallet with a badge and a pair of handcuffs and said, "When do you
want to go to jail? I'm a cop."
Porter said he drove on and was again encountered by Franklin, who was holding
a pistol. Porter said he heard the gun cock and saw Franklin's thumb move. She asked,
"Do you want to die?" Porter called 911.
Porter followed Franklin and observed her drive to the California Highway Patrol
(CHP) office in Oceanside. He waited in a parking lot across the street to await police.
Franklin got out of her car, looked at Porter and "flipped him off."
Franklin acknowledged having handcuffs and a flat badge. She had worked for
the Coronado Police Department but was never a sworn police officer.
A search of the car revealed a .22 caliber revolver between the driver's seat and the
center console.
At trial defense counsel offered to demonstrate the operation of the gun,
specifically that it automatically cocks when it is opened. The trial court denied the
request.
Franklin testified in her own behalf. She said Porter had cut her off while on
Interstate 5. When they exited at Highway 78, and stopped shortly thereafter, she saw
Porter make hand gestures. At the next stop Porter called Franklin and her passenger
"fat, ugly dykes." Franklin responded that Porter was a "fucking asshole."
Franklin said the encounter went on for some distance with Porter bumping the
rear of her car.
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At a further encounter Franklin, acting out of fear, displayed her badge and
handcuffs. When that did not work she displayed her "pea shooter."
Franklin drove to the CHP office to report that Porter had tried to kill her several
times.
Lisa Cronin, who was the passenger in Franklin's car, testified to essentially the
same version of the events as did Franklin
Following the testimony the trial court took the matter under submission.
Ultimately, the court found the victim was partly to blame for "this entire mess," but
nonetheless found Franklin guilty of the felony in count 1 and that she had personally
used a firearm.
As we have previously noted, appellate counsel has filed a brief indicating she is
unable to identify any argument for reversal and asks this court to review the record for
error as mandated by Wende, supra, 25 Cal.3d 436. Pursuant to Anders, supra, 386 U.S.
738, the brief identifies a possible, but not arguable issue:
Did the trial court prejudicially err in refusing to allow a demonstration of the
operation of the gun?
We have reviewed the entire record in accordance with Wende, supra, 25 Cal.3d
436 and Anders, supra, 386 U.S. 738, and have not found any reasonably arguable
appellate issues. Competent counsel has represented Franklin on this appeal.
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DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed.
HUFFMAN, Acting P. J.
WE CONCUR:
O'ROURKE, J.
AARON, J.
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