With prosecutors like this, who needs public defenders?
L.A. D.A. George Gascón is Prosecution Lite
On Dec. 8, Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón put out a paper that reviews his first year in office.
Gascón famously has hired former deputy public defenders to prosecute (or not) crimes in his jurisdiction. He has ended the death penalty for murders in Los Angeles, ditto sentencing enhancements and he has worked to remove cash bail for what he calls “misdemeanor or nonserious or nonviolent felony offenses.”
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Gascón’s mission statement cites his belief in “reduced incarceration and punishment except in circumstances in which it is proportional, in the community’s interest, and serves a rehabilitative or restorative purpose.” Law and order? Not his highest priority.
Note the DA’s four “significant cases” — they’re a short list, and of golden oldies. These are crimes that deserve punishment, but they don’t reflect the sort of random violence that is terrorizing Angelenos today. Two of the defendants already have been convicted on related charges and sentenced to years behind bars. Given their advanced age, three aren’t likely to be free in their lifetimes.
Follow.
People v. Durst. Los Angeles successfully prosecuted the 78-year-old real estate heir in the death of friend Susan Berman. Now he faces charges in the disappearance of his first wife, Kathy in 1982.
People v. Weinstein. A New York jury convicted the 69-year-old film mogul in 2020 for sexual assault and rape and sentenced him to 23 years behind bars. Afterward he was extradited to California to face rape and sexual assault charges for attacks alleged to have occurred from 2004 to 2013.
People v. Hyatt. Porn actor Ron Jeremy (Hyatt), 68, has been charged with more than 30 counts of sexual assault for allegations that go as far back as 1996. The age of his victims ranged from 15 to 51.
People v. Cunningham. Former priest Christopher John Cunningham, now in his late fifties, faces 12 counts of committing lewd acts with a minor in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
I am glad the D.A. wants to prosecute these cases. But if these are his idea of “significant cases” that he can use to make Los Angeles safer, he is clueless about crime.
One in four involves murder, and again, that guy already has been convicted. You would think Gascón could find more recent offenses, but no.
Yes, these are serious crimes. Of course, the D.A. should prosecute them. But I’m guessing the public would like to see some prosecutorial zeal for crimes that victimize hard-working taxpayers today, even if they aren’t headline clickbait.
Part of the problem is his lack of courtroom experience. Gascón was appointed San Francisco District Attorney without ever having tried a case in court. (Thank you, Gavin Newsom.) He doesn’t focus his outrage for the worst offenders. His idea of a significant case is a crime that rates mention in a network crime show — not a crime that puts fear in the hearts of law-abiding Californians.
Homicides are up 46.7% compared with 2019, and Gascon’s boasting about going after men who broke the law decades ago. Smash and grab raids are leading to urban decay.
Debra J. Saunders is a fellow at the Discovery Institute’s Chapman Center for Citizen Leadership. Contact her at dsaunders@discovery.org.
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My sister and nephew were attacked in her home in 2000, the person who did it was a minor (people v Michael X Bell) he was a minor tried as an adult. Now under Gascons policies he was resentenced as a minor (unimaginable) and will be released soon. He is a violent sexual predator and sociopath (diagnosed) Gascon must be recalled - he is a Clear and Present Danger to Public Safety! It’s sickening and must he stopped