Los Angeles’ DA Gascon still silent on crime wave, prosecutor says

The chairman of the union, which represents nearly 1,000 prosecutors in the Los Angeles District, accused District Attorney George Gascon on Monday of keeping silent amid an increase in brazen break-ins and robberies that are becoming increasingly violent.

Eric Siddall, vice president of the Association of Los Angeles Deputy District Attorneys, said the chief prosecutor cares more about the rights of criminal suspects than crime victims, as gangs of thieves continue to ransack retail stores for thousands of dollars in goods, often in front of their eyes Customers and employees.

Last week, 14 suspects allegedly involved in 11 robberies in the past month were arrested and were back on the streets hours later for the zero bail policy. They stay free while they wait for their cases to go to court.

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon speaks after being sworn in during a largely virtual ceremony in downtown Los Angeles in December 2020. A recall is being carried out by a group that opposes its progressive policies. (Bryan Chan / Los Angeles County via AP)
(Bryan Chan / Los Angeles County via AP)

“If you look at the 14 people arrested, you might have charged them with bail, but none of this was done because the prosecutor refused to take any leadership role on the matter,” Siddall told Fox News. “He created an atmosphere without responsibility.”

In a statement to Fox News, Gascon’s special adviser Alex Bastian said the prosecutor’s office will be working with law enforcement and reviewing the cases to determine which criminal charges are appropriate.

“Our organized crime and cybercrime departments are involved because many of these cases can often be linked and some of these crimes take place online,” he said. “These bold acts harm us all, dealers, employees and customers alike. We will hold those responsible to account.”

He declined to comment.

Gascon has come under increasing scrutiny since taking office last year for its progressive policies, with critics saying they are too gentle on crime. Opponents launched a second recall against him on Monday after the first failed to collect enough signatures by October 26.

There have been numerous raids on retail stores, pharmacies, and cannabis dispensaries in Los Angeles and San Francisco in recent months. In San Francisco and the surrounding suburbs, armed caravans roamed the streets at night in search of possible victims and brazenly opened fire near police officers, the authorities there said.

SMASH-AND-GRAB THIEF ATTACK SHOPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, CALIFORNIA SECURITY GUARD SHOOTED AS WORDS OF CRIME

Both cities ranked in the National Retail Federation’s top 10 cities hardest hit by organized retail theft, with the other California location on the list being the capital Sacramento. In Beverly Hills, Jacqueline Avant, wife of music manager Clarence Avant, was killed by an alleged burglar last week.

The zero bail policy, which got so much attention amid the crime wave, was aimed at reducing the number of prison inmates as the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States. Los Angeles police chief Michel Moore said the efforts had unintended consequences.

“There are individuals in communities who see this as a lack of consequence, a lack of deterrence and an open season to commit this type of crime,” he told KNX Radio on Monday. “While the crisis during COVID was well meant, the impact on the criminal justice system has been significant and so severe that it is developing another public safety crisis. We need to make sure that the criminal justice system is dissuasive.”

Officials in San Jose and Santa Clara Counties issued zero bail last week when two suspects allegedly linked to a Halloween murder were released to await trial outside the prison walls. Another case in Los Angeles County resulted in a suspected car theft being arrested 13 times within 12 weeks.

Others blame Proposition 47, the voter-approved measure that reclassified cases of theft below $ 950 as a misdemeanor. However, those who choose to hold judges responsible for the release of suspects or Prop 47 shift responsibility.

“We haven’t had these flash mobs for many, many years,” said Siddall. “You really can’t blame Prop 47. When people are involved in a conspiracy to steal, it becomes a crime. You can’t say the law is weak on these matters. You can’t say the justice system on these matters is weak. ” Subjects.”

Others argue that imposing harsh penalties on those caught stealing is not deterrent

“Organized retail theft, wholesale theft and conspiracy to steal can all be charged as crimes,” said Cristine Soto DeBerry, founder and chief executive officer of the Prosecutors Alliance of California, of which Gascon and San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin serve on the group’s advisory board. “People who commit these crimes are not caught 99% of the time. Therefore, those who claim the solution is to increase punishment for the few should not be taken seriously.”

She argued that the certainty of getting caught was a bigger deterrent than punishment, she said.

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Fox News has reached out to the San Francisco District Attorney.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/la-george-gascon-crime