Share this @internewscast.com

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines woman has pleaded guilty to federal hate crimes for intentionally driving her SUV into two children in 2019 because she said she thought one was Mexican and the other was a member of the Islamic State group.

Nicole Poole Franklin, 43, entered the pleas Wednesday in a Des Moines federal court to two counts of violating the U.S. Hate Crime Act for trying to kill the children in separate attacks because of their races. She pleaded guilty Monday to two state counts of attempted murder in the same Dec. 9, 2019, attacks, the Des Moines Register reported.

Prosecutors said Franklin intentionally jumped a curb in Des Moines that afternoon and struck a Black 12-year-old boy, injuring one of his legs. During her hearing Wednesday, Poole said she thought the boy was of Middle Eastern descent and was a member of IS.

Minutes later, Franklin ran down a 14-year-old Latina girl on a sidewalk, leaving her with injuries for which she was hospitalized for two days. Police said Franklin told them she hit the girl because “she is Mexican.” About an hour later, Franklin was arrested at a local gas station, where officers say she had thrown items at a clerk while yelling racial slurs at him and other customers.

Franklin has said she is schizophrenic and has post-traumatic stress disorder. Last year, a judge ruled that she wasn’t mentally competent to stand trial, but she was later restored to mental competency and ordered to face trial.

The federal counts carry a possible life prison sentence, but prosecutors recommended that Franklin be sentenced to 27 years behind bars and that her federal sentence be served at the same time as her state sentence. On the state counts, Franklin faces up to 25 years on each attempted murder count. It wasn’t clear if other state counts, including hate crimes, would be dropped as part as her guilty plea in state court, the Register reported.

Source: huffpost

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Police Uncover Shocking Scheme: Man Allegedly Impersonates Missing Brother to Sell Family Home

Inset, left to right: Ted Harris (Facebook/WSB) and Kenneth Lee Harris (Cobb…

Alert Issued on Subtle Scam Targeting Elderly Australians

Older members of the community are urged to be on their guard…

Gainesville Resident Faces Federal Indictment on Drug Charge

Announcement from the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida GAINESVILLE,…

Passenger Faces Charges for Assaulting Crew and Fellow Traveler on Australian Flight

A man will face court in Perth today after allegedly kicking at…

Tragedy Strikes: Cyclist Fatally Attacked by Aggressive Driver During Bike Unveiling

Left: Rory Horowitz (Bernalillo County Sheriff”s Office). Right: Ellyssa Salazar (Bernalillo County…

Queensland Carjacking Case: Court Upholds Conviction of Teen in Tragic Grandmother’s Death

A teenager who killed a Queensland grandmother and triggered landmark youth justice…

Chef Accused of Fatally Assaulting Wife in Hotel Room with Multiple Objects, Authorities Report

Inset: Jeffrey C. MacDonald (WWLP). Background: The UMass Amherst Hotel, where MacDonald…

Authorities Report: 78-Year-Old Allegedly Shoots Son in Shocking Incident

Inset: Michael Vernie Owens (Lubbock County Sheriff”s Office). Background: The residence where…

Video Allegedly Captures Man’s Disturbing Reaction to Teen’s Tragic Death

Inset left: Enrique Aguilar (Harris County Jail). Inset right: Mariah Alatorre (Obituary).…

Flag Protection Controversy: Katter United Party Pushes for Jail Time in Australia

Queenslanders who burn the Australian flag in public could face jail time…

US Justice Department Revives Firing Squads: What This Means for Capital Punishment

The US Justice Department will adopt firing squads as a permitted method…

Tragic Apartment Fire Claims Lives of Three Children; Investigation Reveals Hazardous Living Conditions

Background: A photo of the fire damage to Joshua Kannin”s apartment in…