Corral Residents There in Force as First Fire Defendent Sentenced

• Turnout Sends Strong Message that They Now Expect to Play a Part in the Legal Process

BY ANNE SOBLE

The first of the five men charged with contributing to the start of the November 2007 Corral Canyon wildfire was sentenced last Thursday to five years probation and 300 hours of community service.
Although some of the residents who lost their homes in the devastating blaze contend that Brian David Franks’ sentence is much too light, the fire victims attribute that to the plea bargain having been negotiated before they got involved in the legal process.
The 28-year-old’s plea deal requires him to testify against two other Los Angeles men deemed most culpable for the wildfire that claimed 53 homes, dozens of other structures and resulted in several firefighter injuries.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney charges that Brian Alan Anderson, 23, and William Thomas Coppock, 24, as well as Franks, expanded an illegal campfire started by two Culver City men, Eric Matthew Ullman, 19, and Dean Allen Lavorante, 20, in a known party cave on state property at the top of Corral.
Alcohol containers, food wrappers and bundled firewood were traced to the suspects. Reports of other participants having contacted authorities have circulated but have not been substantiated.
The two Culver City men have been charged separately. The preliminary hearing to determine whether there is enough evidence for them to stand trial is scheduled for this Thursday, Feb. 26.
Arraignment for Anderson and Coppock is currently set for Monday, March 2, but may be delayed because Anderson has a new attorney. Prior discussion of a trial by early summer may be precluded by the counsel change.
The Franks legal team has contended from the start that his degree of responsibility was less than that of his companions because he tried to put the fire out. Corral residents counter that he did not call 911 to report that the wildfire had begun to spiral out of control when he left the scene.
The terms of the sentencing by Judge Leslie Dunn were negotiated by Deputy District Attorney Ann Ambrose, who some residents are starting to publicly criticize for not having involved the fire victims as is now mandated by Prop 9 passed last November.
Almost three dozen Corral residents attended the hearing, many of them sharing their personal experiences during the Santa Ana wind-whipped blaze.
Dunn also ordered Franks to stay away from the Corral Canyon area unless he is doing mandated court-supervised fire abatement work, such as brush clearance. He is prohibited from using alcohol or drugs, and was ordered to pay legal costs and restitution still to be negotiated.
Beverly Taki, the coordinator of the Operation Recovery group now asserting itself as “Team Corral,” said, “This was the first of our battles on our way to victory. [Our] statements will let the Anderson and Coppock defense teams know that there is a strong mobilized team of residents ready and able to influence a jury.”
Taki indicated that she agrees with those who say “the sentencing of Franks was an insult and truly not in accord with the criminal actions and devastation that the fire caused to those Malibu families.’’ The OR spokesperson added, “I believe if the DA’s office had the foresight to contact any of the victims, they would not have agreed to this settlement.”
DDA Ambrose is scheduled to go on leave before any trial of Anderson and Coppock appears likely to take place. Judge Susan Speer is tentatively slated to handle the future proceedings.