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Robbery suspect on ice in California By JILL BRISKEY Although he's a suspect in a Dec. 31, 2000, robbery and shooting, it will take almost three years before Franklin Uz Furgerson can be tried in Jackson County. Furgerson, 31, is serving a two-year, eight-month sentence for an unrelated crime at Pleasant Valley State Prison near Fresno, Calif., and local officials won't have access to him until he is released. According to a Del Norte County court official, Furgerson pleaded guilty to charges of second-degree burglary and evading a peace officer Feb. 13, following his arrest in Gasquet on Jan. 25. A spokesman for the California Highway Patrol said police pulled over Furgerson after discovering he was driving a stolen vehicle, and a foot chase ensued. Charges of receiving stolen property and unauthorized use of a stolen vehicle were later dropped. Medford police believe Furgerson took part in a New Year's Eve robbery at 509 W. Jackson St. along with two other men. Court records show the second suspect, 27-year-old Adrian Geyer of Central Point, was arrested and pleaded guilty to his part in the crime. The third, who is believed to have fired a gun during the incident, has never been identified. According to police reports, one of the men knocked on the door of a Jackson Street apartment while holding a handgun. The men allegedly stole a wallet and a 1987 Honda Prelude from the 31-year-old Ashland resident who answered the door. During the incident, several gunshots reportedly were fired, but nobody was injured. Geyer was arrested by Medford police and on Jan. 26 pleaded guilty to a charge of third-degree robbery, for which he was sentenced to two years' probation. Other charges, including second-degree kidnapping, harassment and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, were dismissed. Unable to find Furgerson, Medford police issued a warrant for his arrest in January. He was spotted in Eugene but escaped capture. The Medford robbery took place shortly after Furgerson was released from prison for a jailhouse assault and weapons violation that occurred in 1998. The weapons charge came after police discovered that Furgerson had discarded a .380-caliber handgun. A 5-year-old Jackson County boy found the gun and brought it home. Although the boy's young brother fired a live round, nobody was injured. Court records show Furgerson was convicted of burglary and forgery in 1993. Other convictions include menacing, spousal battery, obstruction and resisting police and giving police false information. Court records show that Geyer, who has been convicted on multiple drug-related charges, pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, in May. He was sentenced to probation and 10 days in jail. Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.