Committee denies parole for David Franklin, citing law-enforcement opposition and sentence length

The Committee on Parole denied parole Monday for David Franklin, a first-felony offender serving a 60-year, 11-month and 30-day sentence for crimes including attempted first-degree murder and remaining classified as a habitual offender for the enhanced term. The hearing at Dixon Correctional Institute included support from the LSU Parole and Reentry Clinic, the Louisiana Parole Project, and family members; the East Baton Rouge Parish district attorney’s office opposed release.

Franklin told the board he was remorseful and described a string of completed programs, including Thinking for a Change, Living in Balance, Celebrate Recovery and other rehabilitation coursework. Warden Dusty Vicom and other institutional staff described Franklin as having held steady employment for many years at the facility and having a largely disciplinary-free record since arriving at Dixon in 2010.

Supporters — including Franklin’s brother and the Parole Project — said he would have family support, potential employment and reentry assistance. The DA’s representative reminded the board that Franklin committed the offenses while under supervision and emphasized the danger presented to officers during incident(s) in which he fired at law enforcement and was shot multiple times. The DA urged that Franklin serve more of his sentence before release.

Panel members praised Franklin’s institutional record but said the seriousness of the offenses, the injuries to officers and law-enforcement opposition led them to withhold parole. The board recorded a majority vote to deny; members instructed Franklin to continue programming (including finishing remaining GED sections) and reconvene when he has additional institutional completions.