Parolee Charged With String of Robberies at Banks, Police Chase

Criminal charges were filed Wednesday against a parolee who is accused of robbing five banks in the San Gabriel Valley less than a year and leading police on a chase.

Jerry Lee Franklin, 39, is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in West Covina Superior Court on five counts of second-degree robbery and one count of evading police, according to Deputy District Attorney Michael Matoba.

The robbery charges stem from alleged holdups at the U.S. Bank in Hacienda Heights on July 6, a Bank of the West in Rowland Heights on July 12 and again Jan. 11, a Citibank in Rowland Heights on Jan. 14 and the First Federal Credit Union in West Covina on April 23.

Franklin led police on a chase along the 10 and 605 freeways after the latest robbery, slowing his white van so that a woman grab onto it and climb in, authorities said.

He was arrested when police unleashed dog on him after stopping the van near Whittier Boulevard and Penn Street, authorities said.

Franklin -- who has been jailed on a parole hold since his arrest -- is facing more than 24 years in state prison if convicted as charged, according to the District Attorney's Office.

Prosecutors declined to file charges against his girlfriend, Yvonne Jeanette Farano of Whittier, citing a lack of evidence of her intent to assist in the robbery or his attempt to flee from police.

Get news in your email, subscribe to newsletters |  Follow us on Facebook and Twitter | Want to Blog on Patch? | Claim your business or group's listing