Middleton family issues statement on bill which could prohibit prosecution of persons under 16 as an adult
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) -- The family of a young girl allegedly raped and killed by a 15-year-old in 2015 is voicing their concerns about a bill which, if ruled constitutional and the suspect is convicted, could see the suspect released early.
Gonzalez was 15 at the time the incident happened and in a statement the family of Middleton claims it was a researched and planned attack in Santa Cruz that was "not an accident."
In December, however, a state supreme court hearing on SB1391 could change the course of how Gonzalez is punished for the crime, if convicted.
SB 1391 in its current form would prohibit the State of California from prosecuting any person under the age of 16 as an adult, regardless of the crime.
In a statement, the Middleton family says "[Gonzalez] is one of the individuals who will benefit from SB1391. If SB1391 is found to be constitutional this young man will be released from custody at the age of 25."
The family went on to say "We cannot believe that the individual who planned to kidnap, rape and murder our Maddy could soon be walking out of jail because State Senator Holly Mitchell and Ricardo Lara chose a one-size-fits-all approach to juvenile justice. This is wrong and lets an intentional, vicious murderer walk free."
The statement also makes reference to Proposition 57 that was passed in 2016 to allow for a juvenile court judge to decide if an individual should be transferred to an adult court, regarding this as a "fair and just manner" to determine the fate of Gonzalez.
The family's final plea in the statement is for the California Supreme Court to overturn Senate Bill 1391 and "let justice be done."
