Judge decides to try A.J. Gonzalez as an adult

Madyson Middleton’s family breathed a sigh of relief, Thursday, after hearing Judge John Salazar made his decision: Senate Bill 1391 is not constitutional. “We were successful. We won today,” said Laura Jordan, Madyson’s mother.

Adrian Gonzalez is suspected of raping and killing 8-year-old Madyson Middleton at his mom’s apartment in 2015. At the time, Gonzalez was 15 years old. This is an age Senate Bill 1391 set out to protect. If convicted, the bill would allow Gonzalez to be released by age 25.

Madyson’s family said this is something they don’t want to see happen. “If that were the case, we would have a psychopathic, necrophiliac killer, who will be 25, set out. That’s not justice. That’s going to instill fear in people,” Jordan said.

Santa Cruz County District Attorney Jeff Rosell said Proposition 57 played a big role in Salazar’s decision. California voters passed it in 2016. It allows any judge to decide if a juvenile, age 14 or older, will be tried as an adult. Senate Bill 1391 overturned that. “The court found it is absolutely inconsistent with what the voters of the State of California did and that the legislature can not undo what the voters have done,” Rosell said.

Salazar’s decision will keep Gonzalez in an adult court, for now. The defense stands by Senate Bill 1391 by stating 14 and 15 year olds do not have fully developed brains. The defense will appeal, according to the district attorney.

The case will go to the appellate court next, but Madyson’s mother said she is fully prepared to keep fighting for her daughter. “Most likely, this will go to the Supreme Court of California. We’re nowhere near done. There is no justice for Maddy, right now. We won this round, which is fantastic, but like I said, it’s not over,” Jordan said.