Written by Christian Capperllari
Over the past week, a judge reinstated a special circumstance allegation and a gang enhancement charge for a Baldwin Park gang member accused of double murder.
This is in direct opposition to many of the policies put in place by Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon, who has been the center of controversy recently, with efforts being made to recall him from his position.
Many Los Angeles residents feel unsafe as a result of Gascon’s far-left policies, which protect criminals more than they do citizens and consequently have led to a rise in the crime rate of the county. Desiree Andrade, whose son was murdered and thrown off a cliff in 2018, spoke out against the controversial D.A. saying “You, George Gascón, have put criminals before victims. I truly believe you have confused your role as a district attorney and a public defender.”
With Gascon’s policy preference of removing enhancements when sentencing criminals in place. If convicted, Baldwin Park gang member Raymond “Danger” Gonzalez would not even be eligible for life in prison without parole and could be eligible for parole in a mere 20 years, despite the fact that he committed two murders. Judge Rob B. Villeza said in an order issued on May 24 that these policy preferences were not enough to lift the enhancements against Gonzalez.
This motion overturned Villeza’s previous decision from January 19 in which he decided to drop the enhancements that were charged to Gonzalez, which lined up closely to Gascon’s policies. Gascon, ever since taking over the D.A.’s office in late 2020, has held firm to the stoppage of using enhancements for crimes committed by gang members, as well as cases involving gun usage. In a policy statement, Gascon expressed his belief that “Statutory ranges for criminal offenses alone, without enhancements, are sufficient to both hold people accountable and also to protect public safety.”
Much of Gascon’s work has been supported by extreme progressive groups and has received backlash from law enforcement agencies. Villeza’s decision shows a step in the right direction, and contrasts Gascon’s policies that are protecting the wellbeing of Los Angeles’ criminals, and endangering the citizens of Los Angeles.
