Adrian Gonzalez makes first appearance since case was sent to adult court
The Santa Cruz teen accused of killing his eight-year-old neighbor in 2015 was back in court today. This was Adrian Gonzalez’s first appearance since his case was sent to adult court last month.
AJ Gonzalez did not enter a plea today. His lawyer says he needs more time to appeal the judge’s ruling to try Gonzalez as an adult. The teen was moved to the Santa Cruz County Jail last month.
Trading his green uniform for the orange set, Adrian Gonzalez, who turned 18 in October, has spent the past month at the Santa Cruz County Jail.
Gonzalez is accused of killing and sexually assaulting his eight-year-old neighbor Maddy Middleton in 2015.
The Santa Cruz County District Attorney charged him as an adult and the trial was scheduled to begin back in February, but the passing of Proposition 57 now requires a judge to decide which court to try juveniles.
“Prop 57 was meant to get kids who commit serious crimes treatment and rehabilitation rather than punishment,” says Gonzalez’s Attorney Larry Biggam.
Biggam says sending his client to adult court for the second time is a repeated mistake and an appeal is on its way.
“It’s a serious crime. Let’s be very clear about that, but I think this kid is not so depraved and incorrigible that we need to just throw him in adult court,” says Biggam.
But whether or not Gonzalez can change is where the defense and prosecution begin to part ways.
“I agree 100 percent with the decision that was made by the judge in this case. I respect that decision. He considered all of the evidence that was presented. He underwent careful analysis of everything that was presented to reach his conclusion and his record is clear so I feel very confident that is the correct decision and that is one that’s going to withhold scrutiny in the appellate courts,” says Assistant District Attorney Rafael Vasquez.
Maddy’s family members, who have attended every hearing, are no strangers to prolonged court procedures.
“I’m not surprised a bit. That’s the way our legal system in this country works. It goes round and round and round but I think there’s enough evidence. The justice will occur. It’s just going to take time,” says Maddy’s Grandfather Bruce Jordan.
As of now, Gonzalez’s arraignment is scheduled to continue on February 20th. It’s not clear when his lawyers will file the appeal and how long that might delay things.
