Broc’s Puppy Store owner to be arraigned in May

By Kathryn Reed

The owner of the much-maligned and now defunct Broc’s Puppy Store in South Lake Tahoe is scheduled to be arraigned May 16 in El Dorado County Superior Court.

Dennis Franks was in court this month. He was unable to continue to retain John Castellanos as his attorney, so a public defender may be appointed. However, with what may be a six-month trial, the court may pick another option when it comes to legal counsel because the staffing situation is such that one attorney could not devote that much time to one case, according to legal sources.

Franks is charged with 65 felony counts of grand theft by false pretense, 27 felony counts of forgery, one felony count of grand theft and a slew of misdemeanor charges.

During the short time the pet store was open numerous complaints were filed, Animal Control raided the shop, customers complained of buying sick dogs – some of which died, and others called it a puppy mill.

According to El Dorado County Assistant District Attorney Hans Uthe, Franks is blaming his now-deceased father for his problems. The elder Franks died about three weeks ago.

Franks is out on his own recognizance. Uthe said if he thought Franks would set up another store like Broc’s, he would have insisted a bail amount be set before he could have gotten out of jail.

It is possible based on scheduling the case will be moved to Placerville.

The South Lake Tahoe and Carson City Broc’s stores closed in April 2010.