Gascon’s False Promise About Zero Bail

Last year when Los Angeles County was considering adopting a zero bail policy, progressive District Attorney George Gascon announced his support saying that letting criminal defendants out without posting bail was safe and would make more of them return to court for trial.  Michael Ruiz of Fox News reports that Gascon’s claims regarding zero bail have turned out to be false.  The most recent example is Victor Duartemacias, one of LA county’s many catalytic converter and car thieves, who led police on a high speed chase the day after Thanksgiving.  Duartemacias was driving a stolen car when he blew through an intersection and smashed into Pedro Barrera’s pickup.  The pickup was hit so hard it knocked down a light pole as the stolen car burst into flames.  Barrera lost an arm in the crash, and died a month later in intensive care.

Duartmacias, who is facing charges of grand theft auto, fleeing police, and reckless driving causing an accident with severe injuries, was released by an LA judge on zero bail a few days later. He missed his first hearing last Monday and his lawyer has not heard from him. Now that Barrera has died from his injuries Duartemacias can be charged with vehicular homicide, but nobody knows where he is. Jonathan Hatami, a deputy DA running to replace Gascon told reporters, “We must have a bail policy in LA that prioritizes public safety and the rights of the victims. And we must have a DA who makes sure that is happening. Right now in LA, we have neither. It’s time for a change.”

Barrera’s family has raised about $12,000 through GoFundMe to pay for his funeral.