George Gascon lets convicted double-murderer go free…
In 2006, Chris Murray shot 15-year old Christopher Trevizo in the head and 17-year old Demetrius Flores in the neck. Flores died on the scene and Trevizo died 6-days later.
Murray, who was 17-years old at the time was arrested, he was tried in adult court and convicted of these heinous killings. Chris Murray was given TWO LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE SENTENCES for these murders and 79-years to life for the attempted murder of Flores’ twin-brother, Damon, who was shot while trying to run away. Damon faked his death until Murray left the scene of the crime.
One would think that would mean case closed and the families of Trevizo and Flores would not have to relive the trauma of their loved ones being taken from them by a cold-blooded murderer.
Unfortunately, this is LA and the District Attorney is Gaffe prone George Gascon who opened Murray’s cell door, allowing him to walk free despite killing two-people in cold blood and trying to kill a third.
How did this happen? It starts with Proposition 57, passed by California voters in 2016. This was the proposition that promised to make our streets safer and make our system fairer by only considering nonviolent convicts for early release.
Here is the lie the ACLU voter guide said about Proposition 57:
YES on 57 — Juvenile justice
Authorizes parole consideration for people with nonviolent convictions for good behavior, education and rehabilitation
Hidden in the deceitful Proposition 57 language is a section that requires all juveniles convicted as an adult to be granted a sentencing rehearing in Juvenile Court UNLESS the local District Attorney files a petition to transfer the case to adult court.
Upon assuming office, Gascon issued an initial set of pro-criminal, anti-victim policies. One of those policies was 20-09 and it forbids a prosecutor from moving a juvenile case to adult court. So, Gascon did not file the petition to transfer Chris Murray’s case back to adult court where it belonged. Proposition 57 and Gascon’s policy Gaffes now gave double murderer Chris Murray an instant Get Out of Jail Free card. Murray, now in his 30’s, will be released. Set free over the strong objections of the victim’s families, but since when did Gascon care about victims and their families?
Listen to the podcast about this case where the detective spells out the details.
Convicted Double-Murder Chris Murray
15-Year Old Murder Victim Christopher Trevizo
17-Year Old Murder Victim Demetrius Flores
DA Gascon Opts for Reduced Punishment for Mother & Boyfriend Accused of Torturing and Murdering 10-year-old Boy
Against the strong objections of his own prosecuting attorneys, George Gascon refused to consider the death penalty for the suspects being prosecuted for heinously beating, torturing and murdering 10-year old Anthony Avalos. Anthony’s mother, Heather Maxine Barron, and her boyfriend, Kareem Ernesto Leiva, are accused of whipping Anthony with a belt and a looped cord, holding him by his feet and dropping him on his head repeatedly. As if that wasn’t enough, the two are also accused of pouring hot sauce on little Anthony’s face and in his mouth.
The original decision by previous prosecutors to seek the death penalty for Barron and Leiva (who is a suspected MS-13 gang member) was also supported by allegations that include; performing sexual acts in front of Anthony and leaving Anthony alone with a suspected child molester that led to Anthony being molested.
My News LA wrote: The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office has dropped its bid for the death penalty against a Lancaster woman and her boyfriend, who are charged with murder and torture in connection with her 10- year-old son's death, a prosecutor told a judge Thursday. Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Hatami – who has criticized new District Attorney George Gascon for a series of directives including one that advises that "a sentence of death is never an appropriate resolution in any case" – opposed the latest decision in the case of Heather Maxine Barron and Kareem Ernesto Leiva.
10-Year Old Murder Victim Anthony Avalos
Gascon Offers Secret “Sweetheart” Deal to Gang Murder Suspect: Helps Campaign Supporter
26-year old Fernando Rojo Jr. was murdered in front of his parents home by a reputed gang member, Rudy Dominguez. Mr. Rojo was mistakenly targeted for this cowardly crime. Dominguez was facing life without parole until his defense attorney called in a favor from one of George Gascon’s top level staff members, Mario Trujillo. Trujillo secretly offered Dominguez’s attorney a plea deal that would carry only a 7-year sentence. The secret sweetheart deal was given to Dominguez’s attorney, Traci Blackburn, a campaign and policy advisor to Gascon.
Upon hearing of this egregious ethical violation, the judge in the case stated, “because there’s no way I could look myself in the mirror and live with an offer, a plea bargain, of seven years in this case”, the deal was withdrawn. Gascon’s secret sweetheart deal infuriated the victim’s family members, "We were blindsided by it first of all, we never even heard of anything. From what we knew, it was a preliminary hearing, them trying to get everything together, then all of a sudden, it’s kind of like oh there’s a 7-year plea on the table. Nobody even spoke to us, how is it that our loved one is worth 7 years?” stated the victim’s sister-in-law Amy Rojo.
26-Year Old Murder Victim Fernando Rojo Jr.