Man sentenced to over 12 years for Canyon Lake shooting

Franklin Joe Ortega. Photo provided by Riverside County Sheriff’s Department

Franklin Joe Ortega, a 33-year-old Menifee resident, was sentenced to 12 years and four months in state prison last week after pleading guilty to gun assault and other charges stemming from a confrontation in Canyon Lake. Franklin admitted to assault with a firearm, felony evading, and a sentence-enhancing allegation of using a firearm during a felony under a plea deal with the Riverside County District Attorney‘s Office. In return for his admissions, three related charges were dropped.

The plea agreement was confirmed during a hearing at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta by Superior Court Judge John Monterosso, who imposed the agreed-upon sentence.

The incident occurred on the evening of Oct. 27, when Franklin and Steven Dowell of Canyon Lake were engaged in an unspecified dispute near Calcutta and Canyon Lake Drives, according to Sgt. Robert Thomas of the sheriff‘s department. During the altercation, Franklin reportedly drew a handgun and shot Steven.

Deputies assigned to Lake Elsinore Station responded to the assault with a deadly weapon call and located a victim with a single gunshot wound. Steven was transported to an area hospital with a non-life threatening injury.

At about 5:20 a.m. the next morning, the suspect was seen driving in the area of Magnolia Avenue and the 91 freeway in the City of Riverside. Lake Mathews Station deputies attempted a traffic stop, but the vehicle failed to yield, and a pursuit was initiated. The pursuit concluded when Franklin stopped the vehicle he was driving near KPC Parkway just north of Sampson in the city of Corona and fled on foot. Corona Police Department and members of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office Special Enforcement Bureau and K9 responded.

While the area was being searched, the Menifee man was located and detained.