Franky Carrillo

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Franky Carrillo
Franky Carrillo V2.webp
BornFrancisco Carrillo, Jr.  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
1970s  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Los Angeles   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Alma mater
Occupation Politician   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Political party Democratic Party   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Website https://frankycarrillo.com/   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Francisco "Franky" Carrillo is an American politician, who was wrongfully convicted of the 1991 murder of Donald Sarpy and served twenty years in prison before his conviction was reversed by the Los Angeles County Superior Court on March 14, 2011. [1] A member of the Democratic Party, Carrillo currently serves on the Los Angeles County Probation Oversight Commission. [2]

Contents

Wrongful murder conviction

Carrillo's conviction relied on eyewitness testimony from six people. The witnesses later admitted they did not have a view of the shooter, and instead had been influenced by police officers, and each other, to identify Carrillo. Two men have since confessed to the crime, and stated Carrillo was not involved. [3]

Although always professing his innocence, Carrillo was found guilty at his second trial after his initial trial resulted in a hung jury, and subsequent appeals. After Carrillo's case was taken on by Ellen Eggers, the Northern California Innocence Project, and attorneys from Morrison & Foerster, LLP, he was able to conclusively prove his innocence.

Carrillo's story has twice been featured on the podcast Strangers by Lea Thau. His story is also told in the Netflix series The Innocence Files . [4]

Career

While in prison for a crime for which he was later exonerated, Franky Carrillo worked several jobs and learned multiple trades: teacher’s aide, counselor’s clerk, Braille transcriber, youth diversion counselor, auto mechanic, dietitian, physical therapy assistant, and many other skilled professions.

He served as an elected member and former chair of the Democratic Central Committee, [5] where he co-chaired the Judicial Interview Committee.

As an environmental advocate, Carrillo was a proponent of Measure A, the critical L.A. County parks and water bond measure that passed in 2016, because it provided funding for open space and improvements first and foremost in the communities that needed it most – marginalized neighborhoods. Franky also publicly supported Measure W, the 2018 Safe Clean Water Act for L.A. County, which according to a recent report [6] helped divert 96 billion gallons of urban runoff from recent rainy season to recharge our water table instead of flowing into the ocean.

Working closely with state legislative members of both houses and with stakeholders deeply devoted to social justice, Franky Carrillo supported and testified in committees for Senate Bill-9 Juvenile LWOP resentencing, [7] Senate Bill-260/261youthful offender parole hearing, [8] Senate Bill-923 (eye witness bill), Assembly Bill-1987 (post conviction discovery materials), Senate Bill-336 (Reentry services available to exonerees), Senate Bill-980 (which improves access to physical and biological evidence), Senate Bill-1058 (to expand false testimony claim to include outdated scientific testimony), and Assembly Bill-454 (which exempts wrongfully convicted individuals from paying state income tax on compensation).

Franky Carrillo has been a big advocate for youth. Including his work on closing of the Eastlake juvenile hall, [9] one of the oldest problematic juvenile halls in the state of California. Franky Carrillo also helped in establish the Franky Carrillo Teen Court, [10] a widely recognized alternative to the L.A. County Superior Court. Carrillo Teen Court is designed to empower students by educating them on the law, the power of their voice, and the courtroom process.

Franky Carrillo founded a nonprofit, The Restorative Project, which hosts formerly incarcerated individuals on an open, natural ranch to help them adjust to being free—and being in the natural environment is crucial to healing, especially when people are spending more and more time online.

He currently serves at the Chief Advisor to the Innocence Project and Special Advisor to the California Innocence Advocates. [11]

In April 2021, Carrillo was selected by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to serve as the Chair of the Leadership Team of the county's Probation Oversight Commission. [12]

In April 2023, Carrillo announced his candidacy in the 2024 elections to represent California's 27th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. He withdrew from the race in October 2023. [13]

2024 California State Assembly race

In October 2023, Carrillo launched a campaign for the California State Assembly in District 52. [14] He finished second behind Democrat Jessica Caloza in the primary election on March 5, 2024. Carrillo lost to Caloza in the general election of November 5, 2024, receiving 53,820 votes to Caloza’s 108,882. [15]

Artist and activist Shepard Fairey’s Studio Number One worked with Franky Carrillo [16] on a campaign poster for Carrillo’s run. The poster was the image of the campaign’s get-out-the-vote effort to educate the public on the race, in which Franky Carrillo could have become the first exoneree elected to the California State Assembly.

Carrillo’s top legislative priorities included: [17]

  1. Housing as a human right
  2. Reshaping the criminal justice system, public safety, and gun control
  3. Equitable access to clean air and water; quality health care; and education.

In the Assembly race Franky Carrillo was endorsed by La Opinion, [18] Knock LA, [19] LA Defensa, [20] LA Progressive, [21] Initiate Justice Action [22] and supported by unions, grassroots Democratic Party clubs, justice reform advocates, and Democratic State Senator Maria Elena Durazo along with many others. [23]

Assembly District 52 includes communities within Los Angeles County. They are, in alphabetical order: Atwater Village, Cypress Park, Eagle Rock, East Hollywood, East Los Angeles, Echo Park, El Sereno, Elysian Heights, Elysian Valley, Glassell Park, Glendale, Highland Park, Lincoln Heights, Los Feliz, Montecito Heights, Monterey Hills, Mt. Washington, and Silver Lake.

Personal life

Carrillo has three children. [4]

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References

  1. ↑ Brown, Kenny (April 1, 2013). "Making a new life after 20 years of false imprisonment". BBC News Magazine. Archived from the original on April 1, 2013. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Exoneree featured in Netflix's 'The Innocence Files' launches campaign for Congress".
  3. ↑ "Franky Carrillo". Safe California. SAFE CA. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  4. 1 2 "The Innocence Files: A shocking Netflix series on wrongful convictions". The Guardian . April 15, 2020. Archived from the original on April 23, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Franky Carrillo | ACLU of Southern California". www.aclusocal.org. October 28, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  6. ↑ "L.A. County captures 96 billion gallons of water during 'super year' of storms". Los Angeles Times. May 11, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  7. ↑ "California's Fair Sentencing Law (2012) | National Center for Youth Law". youthlaw.org. January 1, 2012. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Overview of S.B. 260/261 (Hancock) Sentencing Review for Juveniles Tried as Adults in California" (PDF).
  9. ↑ "State orders L.A. County to move nearly 300 youths out of 'unsuitable' juvenile halls". Los Angeles Times. May 23, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Esteban Torres HS - Social Justice Leadership Academy Magnet". torressjmaghs.lausd.org. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Franky Carrillo". calinnocence. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  12. ↑ Press Release (April 15, 2021). "L.A. County Announces New Probation Oversight Commission Leadership Team". scvnews.com. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Exoneree Franky Carrillo launches campaign for Congress". KTTV. April 19, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Carrillo For Assembly 2024; Franky". californiatargetbook.com. October 13, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  15. ↑ "General Election - Statement of Vote, November 5, 2024". California Secretary of State. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Franky Carrillo for Assembly". Franky Carrillo for Assembly. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Issues". Franky Carrillo for Assembly. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Por Franky Carrillo para la Asamblea de California". La Opinión (in Spanish). October 13, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  19. ↑ LA, Ground Game (October 6, 2024). "The Knock LA Progressive Voter Guide for the November 2024 General Election". Knock LA. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Voter Guide 2024". La Defensa. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  21. ↑ Kyle, Sharon (September 28, 2024). "LA Progressive Voter Guide November 2024". LA Progressive. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  22. ↑ "Franky Carrillo – Assembly District 52 - Initiate Justice Action". September 25, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Endorsements". Franky Carrillo for Assembly. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
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