Opinion ID: 2634399
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Defendant's admissions in his letter to Franklin

Text: Over defendant's objection, the prosecution read into evidence a letter defendant wrote to Jerry Franklin, seized from the latter's Fresno County jail cell on September 23, 1993. The letter read as follows: Young Jay, I just got your letter and your words and thoughts made me immediately get back to you. Listen to what I am saying because I'm coming at you with the real. Do not think that you won't see daylight because you will and reassure your woman of this fact. From the beginning I was never going to let you go down on this case. I know what needs to be done and the both of us don't need to get stretched out. On my end I'm praying for life without parole. If I get the death penalty I'm hoping that the appeal will give me action. I am not faking myself out, that way I know how to deal with this. Jay, you have to testify in order to free yourself. This is how it goes. In the long run you cop to the robbery, I'll take the kidnap, robbery, rape, and murder. Now listen. You really won't be copping to the actual robbery. All you be admitting to is helping Kenny [Dustin] in the alley because he couldn't handle [the] dude. Your testimony pins Kenny for the robbery. I helped and knocked [the] dude out because he was fighting both of you. We helped Kenny put him in the trunk and at first Kenny was going to take us to go party but you and I was scared because the dude was beating on the trunk. Kenny took us out to the field and when me and him was pulling [the] dude out the trunk he got mad, because I dropped [the] dude and he started beating [the] dude with the rim because [the] dude made him look bad in the alley and we had to help him. That bitch went with us cause she wanted to. The robberies before David [Drake], Mike [Beckham], and Elias did, we just watched.... [T]hat bitch remember that she was at me from the moment we got there and then the next night when her husband was gone and it was me, you, her and David, she told you that she liked me but she had never been with a Black man before. But later on you saw us kissing in the kitchen and the bedroom and then when David [Drake] put the handcuffs on you, you walked in the room and saw us and when her husband called, David knocked on the door to warn us that he was coming. There is a whole lot more but as we are going to court, I'll tell you. So you see to show that you wasn't involved, you have to testify. Robbery carries three, six, and eight, and you would probably get the six but you'll have almost three in and you won't do no more than a year. It is good, that Mary Lou found out the real. Jay, go ahead and marry her now that she knows what time it is[.] [I]f she still wants to be down for you give her what she wants. Tell her to come visit me. I want to let her know that it ain't going to be easy and that she is going to have to be strong during trial and I want to let her know what it will be like being married to someone in the pen. I want to tell her to her face that I ain't going to let you go down on this. I also want to tell her a little about the case so she can understand a little better, plus if she is going to be my cousin, I want to meet her, explain to her why I want her to come up. I need her full name too. Jay, I haven't told the lawyers none of the plans and ... you must remember it's me and you and I know you want to help but I need you out there on the streets. Russ and Cecil aren't looking out for moms and them the way they should so you can't be here with me. If I tell you to roll over on me, don't question what I say, just do it. We won't have time to do a lot of talking. Tell Mary Lou to come visit and rush me her name back so I can put her on the list. Stay up. Dex.