Los Angeles’ Gascon calls reports on hit-and-run ‘misinformation’ as victim blasts ‘murderer-friendly’ DA
The 17-year-old wrong-way driver who killed a mother and her child will spend five to seven months in a juvenile probation camp.
Last summer, Democratic Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon doubled back on the short sentence given to a minor hit-and-run motorist who ran down a mother and her newborn while walking down a Venice side street – and the victim is calling him out.
“After evaluating the evidence, our office prosecuted the juvenile with the most serious violations allowed by law: two counts of felony assault and one count of felony leaving the scene of an injury accident without exchanging information,” the besieged district attorney said Monday.
In a withering reply, the victim, who has asked to be identified only by her first name Rachel, said the allegations “fell extremely short of fair.”
On Monday, Democratic Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon said that “misinformation” is circulating about a youngster who admitted to mowing down a mother and her newborn. (AFP photo/Robyn Beck | Los Angeles County)
There is misinformation circulating about an incident that occurred last summer in which a minor, driving under the influence, struck a woman and her child with a car in Venice. It is important that the public knows the facts. 1/6
— George Gascón (@LADAOffice) June 6, 2022
“You didn’t prosecute attempted murder because the driving pattern proves it, and you didn’t charge assault with a deadly weapon with a car because it would be a strike on the minor’s record,” she said in a message to the besieged DA on Monday.
“Minors are not eligible for charges that result in a strike offense under your policies.” This is how you ensure that when they turn 18, their records can be wiped clean. That must be the magical number at which people begin to behave as decent human beings and contribute to society. “It doesn’t seem to matter what comes before that.”
Contrary to what some have claimed, it is not “attempted murder” under CA law. To charge that offense, our office would have to be able to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, the minor specifically intended to kill the victims. There was no evidence of that. 3/6
— George Gascón (@LADAOffice) June 6, 2022
Critics who have prosecuted hit-and-run cases have suggested that more serious charges may be brought.
“Gascon’s testimony is false for multiple reasons,” said Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor who now works as a plaintiff’s lawyer and has tried hit-and-run cases in both criminal and civil courts.
More serious charges should have been filed: Felony 245(a)(1). Felony hit and run. Felony unlawful taking of vehicle. Felony DUI.
— Shea Sanna (@sanna_shea) June 6, 2022
A law student could prove this case. The video and the victims are all the evidence you need. https://t.co/3wVv8eE8SZ
“The defendant was charged with assault inflicting grave bodily injury, which isn’t a’strike’ under California’s three strikes legislation, when he could have been charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, which is a strike,” he said Monday on Fox News Digital. “Under California law, a vehicle can be used as a lethal weapon.”
He said that the suspect might have been charged with a variety of other felonies, including driving under the influence and car theft.
THREAD (1/4) A 16 y/o hit & run driver in a stolen car who ran over a mom & child in Venice was sentenced on Friday to 5-7 months in juvie camp. LA DA @GeorgeGascon office tells me this was an “appropriate resolution”, but I’ve learned he has a prior criminal history. @FoxNews pic.twitter.com/HupMw9KRFu
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) June 5, 2022
The driver, now 17, was sentenced to five to seven months in a juvenile probation camp, which is “less than a military school and a little rougher than a summer camp,” according to authorities. The sentence was termed by Gascon’s office as “an suitable settlement” on Friday.
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