Woman Who Intentionally Ran Over Black, Latina Children With Car Gets 25 Years

KEY POINTS

An Iowa woman who hit a Black boy and Latina girl with her SUV in 2019 admitted she intentionally struck them
She told police she smoked meth before the incidents
The woman was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the attacks

A 43-year-old Iowa woman has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for intentionally hitting two children of color with her car in 2019.

Nicole Poole Franklin, of Des Moines, received a 25-year sentence after admitting to intentionally running over a 14-year-old girl with her SUV on Dec. 9, 2019, because she was Latina. She also received a concurrent 25-year sentence in Polk County Court for deliberately striking a 12-year-old boy, who is Black, the same day she hit the girl, The Des Moines Register reported.

Poole also hurled racial and ethnic slurs at a gas employee at the time, police said.

Poole pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted murder in April. She is due for sentencing in August on two federal hate crime convictions for the attacks. The 43-year-old could get sentenced to life in prison, but federal prosecutors are recommending 27 years.

Poole told police that she struck the girl because she was "Mexican," according to a release from the Department of Justice. She also admitted to smoking meth before the attacks, the criminal complaint said.

One of the witnesses who testified against Poole was the girl’s father, Cesar Miranda. He said he previously thought that his kids were lucky to live in the U.S. and be free. However, the incident changed his outlook.

While he forgave Poole for her actions, the father said that the experience has now become a nightmare for him and his family. That includes fears of being struck by a vehicle whenever he attempts to cross a street.

"My hope disappeared," Miranda said. "My belief that I was free in this country was gone."

However, Miranda clarified that there is no hatred on their part and that all they want is to see Poole change.

"I don't hate you because I don't want to feel what you feel to my daughter," Miranda said. "I hope you change because human beings can never live like this."

Aside from them, Osman Sanford, the father of the 12-year-old boy, was also present. He said that he never had problems with people of other races so Sanford did not understand where Poole was coming from. He also added that his son was angry and aggressive after the attack.

"I know it's going to affect his life, so I'm just trying to help him," the father stated.