On May 16th Judge Salazar will rule on the constitutionality of SB 1391 with regards to AJ Gonzalez. Senate Bill 1391, affirmed in September, was a legislative measure meant to place all 14 and 15 year olds in the juvenile system. Gonzalez, then 15 years old, admitted to the kidnapping, sexual assault and murder of 8 year old Maddy Middleton.
If Judge Salazar rules that SB1391 is constitutional, it is very possible that Gonzalez will be released from custody on his 25th birthday.
There was a 48 hours special on a similar case about Daniel Marsh, who murdered an elderly couple in Davis when he was 15. While some superior court judges are finding SB 1391 unconstitutional, the First District California court of appeals recently just upheld the constitutionality of SB 1391.
It is believed that Judge Salazar will not hold AJ accountable in adult court since this appellate decision has been made public, so we need to pack the courtroom to show the court and the family that although we might believe in the concept of restorative justice, we also believe that perpetrators need to be held accountable for their actions.
While many juveniles can be rehabilitated, some are just too dangerous, and SB 1391 does not allow for these few to be contained. Allowing AJ Gonzalez to walk free at the age of 25 would be an imminent danger to society.
CALL TO ACTION:
Please join us in supporting the Middleton family and the safety of our community.
When: Thursday May 16th at 10am
Where: SCC Courthouse, 701 Ocean Street, Dept 4.