MASON CITY – A Clear Lake man who entered the home of a Mason City woman he was accused of assaulting before fleeing to his parents’ house in Clear Lake as cops searched for him has pleaded guilty to burglary.
Daniel Lee Franken, age 24, had been in jail for weeks ever since we was arrested for breaking into a Mason City woman’s home. On September 25 at 2:17 AM, a violation of a no-contact order between Franken and his alleged victim of domestic abuse was reported in the 500 block of 21st Street SE, where his victim lived. Police told NIT that Franken reportedly entered the residence of the protected party. Once inside, Franken allegedly assaulted the protected party and obstructed attempts to contact police. A family member chased Franken from the residence and he left in a vehicle. Franken was located a short time later at his parents’ house in Clear Lake. Franken was charged with second degree burglary; violation of a no-contact order; obstruction of emergency communications; and 5th degree criminal mischief after police discovered that the victim’s vehicle had fresh damage apparently caused by Franken. He was released from jail on November 26 when he posted a $50,000 cash bond via a wire transfer, and had awaited trial ever since. The alleged female victim had been protected by a no-contact order ever since Franken was arrested on a felony domestic abuse assault charge that involved strangulation. He later entered a guilty plea to assault causing bodily injury in that case, and the protection order remained in-tact. He was accused four times of violating that no-contact order and still has court proceedings to resolve those matters.
At a plea hearing on February 2, Franken entered a guilty plea to an amended burglary charge ahead his scheduled trial date of February 17. Records show he will be sentenced on March 27.
Franken is still awaiting trial on other charges related to this case, included violation of probation, violation of a no-contact order, obstruction of emergency communications; and 5th degree criminal mischief.
