Nov. trial set over threats sent to Colo. lawmaker

A “not guilty” plea has been entered for a Colorado Springs man accused of threatening a Colorado lawmaker as the Legislature debated gun control.

A judge on Monday also set a Nov. 20 trial date for Franklin Sain. He is accused of sending profane and threatening emails and phone messages that were laced with racial slurs to Democratic Rep. Rhonda Fields of Aurora.

Sain is charged with attempting to influence a public official and harassment based on ethnicity. He has disputed sending all the messages.

Sain’s attorney Siddhartha Rathod says he’s hoping prosecutors drop the case. He says that while the emails were vile, they represent free speech protected under the Constitution. Rathod says Sain has apologized to Fields via email.