Franks Pleads Innocent and Will Join Raiders Today

Elvis Franks, a defensive lineman for the Raiders, pleaded innocent to a federal cocaine charge Wednesday.

Franks’ lawyer, Jack M. Levin, entered the plea for Franks before U.S. Magistrate Jack B. Streepy. Streepy said Franks could travel to California today to attend the Raiders’ training camp at Oxnard.

Franks, 30, who lives in the Cleveland suburb of South Euclid, is a former player with the Cleveland Browns. He was arrested July 21 by FBI agents in the parking lot of a Warrensville Heights health spa.

Agents said they confiscated four ounces of cocaine from a 1987 Jeep that Franks was driving and six more ounces from his home.

He was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.