A Los Angeles teen who escaped exhausting jail time after being convicted of homicide was launched by District Lawyer George Gascón and accused of a second killing lower than a yr later.
Denmonne Lee was convicted in 2018 after a gasoline station theft in Antelope Valley ended within the demise of former Marine John Ruh. Whereas the then-16-year-old was not the shooter, he was acquainted with Ruh and offered his co-defendant Deonta ‘Fatboy’ Johnson with the weapon, per official information.
Gascón took workplace two years after Ruh’s homicide and barred prosecutors from making an attempt juveniles as adults, so Lee was commanded to serve time on the Safe Youth Remedy Facility in Sylmar till he turned 25, as reported by the Los Angeles Occasions.
A yr after his conviction, officers stated Lee ‘responded very nicely’ to applications whereas in jail and probation officers moved him from the Sylmar facility to a rehabilitation-focused setting in Malibu.
Final June, the 22-year-old was launched to a midway home, enrolled in neighborhood school and located a job at a nonprofit, per the LA Occasions.
A Los Angeles teen who escaped exhausting jail time after being convicted of homicide was launched by DA George Gascón, pictured, and accused of a second killing lower than a yr later
However in April he was arrested and charged with taking part in a task within the January 19 homicide of 28-year-old Eric Ruffins in Compton.
Ruh’s widow Michelle Brace stated in court docket this month: ‘Denmonne, you got a present and also you squandered that present. Towards my household’s needs, I had hope that you’d change and assist your neighborhood.
‘I’ll at all times pray for you and your security. You broke my coronary heart after I heard you had been in bother once more.
‘You gave me hope if you apologized to me about killing … my husband. I forgave you, now I really feel like a idiot.’
Brace informed the LA Occasions she plans to maneuver out of California – however not earlier than she votes in opposition to Gascón, one of many nation’s most progressive prosecutors, in November.
Denmonne Lee was convicted of homicide after a 2018 gasoline station theft ended within the demise of former Marine John Ruh (pictured)
Whereas the then-16-year-old was not the shooter, he was acquainted with Ruh and offered his co-defendant Deonta ‘Fatboy’ Johnson with the weapon, per official information
Activists in opposition to Gascón typically cite circumstances the place they are saying his ban of making an attempt juveniles as adults has led to extra crimes.
After huge backlash, Gascón’s workplace has since created a way for officers to have circumstances transferred to grownup court docket.
Following Ruh’s homicide, police stated Lee walked away ‘smiling’ after the veteran was shot 3 times.
Lee reportedly bragged concerning the killing to his girlfriend, saying his gun ‘had a physique on it.’ Prosecutors additionally claimed Lee threatened his girlfriend whereas in custody, saying he was going to shoot her for ‘snitching.’
The DA’s workplace informed the LA Occasions in an announcement that no matter Gascón’s coverage, Lee ought to have remained in juvenile court docket as a result of he was not the shooter and had no prior felony file.
However in April he was arrested and charged with taking part in a task within the January 19 homicide of 28-year-old Eric Ruffins (pictured) in Compton
Gascón’s November opponent Nathan Hochman, a former federal prosecutor, has tried to capitalize on anger over crime and homelessness, points that led voters to unseat San Francisco District Lawyer Chesa Boudin in a recall election in 2022.
In his marketing campaign advertisements, Hochman, a protection lawyer, has vowed to vary the route of the district lawyer, saying: ‘It’s time we had a DA who fights for victims, not criminals.’
Gascón was elected on a felony justice reform platform in 2020, within the wake of George Floyd’s killing by police. He confronted a recall try inside his first 100 days and a second try later, which each didn’t get on the poll.
Throughout his first time period, Gascón instantly imposed his marketing campaign agenda: not looking for the demise penalty; not prosecuting juveniles as adults; ending money bail for misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies; and now not submitting enhancements triggering stiffer sentences for sure parts of crimes, repeat offenses or gang membership.
Ruh’s widow Michelle Brace stated she plans to maneuver out of California – however not earlier than she votes in opposition to Gascón, one of many nation’s most progressive prosecutors, in November
He was compelled to roll again a few of his greatest reforms early in his tenure, reminiscent of initially ordering the elimination of greater than 100 enhancements and elevating a hate crime from misdemeanor to a felony.
The transfer infuriated victims’ advocates, and Gascón backpedaled, restoring enhancements in circumstances involving kids, older individuals and folks focused due to their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or incapacity.
His challengers have pledged to reverse many or practically all of his most progressive insurance policies, reminiscent of his early orders to eradicate submitting for sentencing enhancements.
