GUILTY CA - Madyson Middleton, 8, Santa Cruz, 26 July 2015 - #3 *Arrest*

[MsMarple]

So if the jury decides Adrian still presents a risk to public safety. What happens next? He's transferred to an adult correctional facility? For how long?

If a jury decides against Gonzalez’s release he will be held in prison for another two years. After that the District Attorney can petition to block his release again.

Maddy Middleton Murderer to Face Trial for Freedom

The courtroom was packed as Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Denine Guy read her ruling concerning convicted murder Adrian Gonzalez.

www.goodtimes.sc

 

[Knox]

If a jury decides against Gonzalez’s release he will be held in prison for another two years. After that the District Attorney can petition to block his release again.

Maddy Middleton Murderer to Face Trial for Freedom

The courtroom was packed as Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Denine Guy read her ruling concerning convicted murder Adrian Gonzalez.

www.goodtimes.sc

Thanks, does it have to go to a jury again - every time the DA petitions to block his release?

This doesn't seem like a great scenerio. DA's change, as does the political environment within that office. As time goes on, memories of this horrific murder in the community fade. I also hate that her Mom has to endure this. She shouldn't have to fight to keep AG behind bars, this is re-victimizing her.

California needs to amend Prop 57, committing a violent crime as a 14/15-year-old shouldn't result in a rehabilitative only option. Some simply can't be rehabilitated, what then? It's not that black & white. What about the victims of violent crime?

California Supreme Court Upholds Law Protecting 14–15-Year-Olds from Transfer to Adult Court | National Center for Youth Law

California Supreme Court unanimously upheld law prohibiting the transfer of 14 and 15-year-olds to the adult criminal system

youthlaw.org

 

[Peppery]

He didn’t just commit murder, but also the violent sexual assault of a child he lured into his home. If I recall correctly he also helped search for her knowing he’d placed her in the dumpster while still alive.

I firmly believe some crimes are so heinous that perpetrators cannot be rehabilitated. And this is for sure one of them.

 

[Peppery]

In 2015, a rape and murder of an 8-year-old horrified Santa Cruz. Court weighs whether to set killer free

Prosecutors have petitioned the court to prevent the release of Adrian Jerry Gonzalez, who pleaded guilty to all charges in the death of Madyson 'Maddy' Middleton.

www.latimes.com

“On Tuesday, a clinical forensic psychologist testified that Gonzalez was deemed “above average” on one sexual assault risk assessment and “moderate risk” on the other, Lookout Santa Cruz reported. The hearing will continue this month.”

 

[MsMarple]

Here in Washington state Gabe Gaeta was only two years older when he raped and murdered Jenise yet he’s sentenced to 40 years.

As a mom and grandma I’m happy both boys (now men) are behind bars. I’ve yet to see a convincing argument that either would be safe enough to once again be around little girls. Can sexual predators change? Can sexual predators who murder change?

 

[MsMarple]

On Monday, questionnaires were given to potential jurors. The process will last for the rest of the week, per the district attorney's office.

Jury selection will continue with the questioning of the remaining jurors on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

Jury selection begins for Adrian Gonzalez's release trial

The jury selection process began Monday for the Santa Cruz man convicted of the rape and murder of an 8-year-old girl in 2015 when he was a juvenile.

www.ksbw.com

 

[MsMarple]

A judge dismissed the jury for the trial to decide if a Santa Cruz man convicted of the rape and murder of an 8-year-old girl in 2015 will be released.
…
Judge Denine Guy dismissed the jurors on Monday. There will be a new juror decided, but there is no estimate of when that will get done.

The Santa Cruz County District Attorney's Office said the trial is set to start on Sept. 11.

Jury dismissed in Adrian Gonzalez case, new counsel to be selected

A judge dismissed the jury for the trial to decide if a Santa Cruz man convicted of the rape and murder of an 8-year-old girl in 2015 will be released.

www.ksbw.com

 

[Knox]

A judge dismissed the jury for the trial to decide if a Santa Cruz man convicted of the rape and murder of an 8-year-old girl in 2015 will be released.
…
Judge Denine Guy dismissed the jurors on Monday. There will be a new juror decided, but there is no estimate of when that will get done.

The Santa Cruz County District Attorney's Office said the trial is set to start on Sept. 11.

Jury dismissed in Adrian Gonzalez case, new counsel to be selected

A judge dismissed the jury for the trial to decide if a Santa Cruz man convicted of the rape and murder of an 8-year-old girl in 2015 will be released.

www.ksbw.com

What happened here?

 

[SophieRose]

What happened here?

MSN

www.msn.com

Jury selection will begin anew at an undetermined date in a case deciding Adrian “AJ” Gonzalez’s juvenile detention release after the defense attorney for the confessed murderer and rapist declared a conflict of interest this week.

 

[Knox]

MSN

www.msn.com

Jury selection will begin anew at an undetermined date in a case deciding Adrian “AJ” Gonzalez’s juvenile detention release after the defense attorney for the confessed murderer and rapist declared a conflict of interest this week.

Thank you for posting this story, the other did not make any sense as it lacked the background information on the COI.

 

[SophieRose]

Thank you for posting this story, the other did not make any sense as it lacked the background information on the COI.

Santa Cruz County (where he pled guilty to murder) is deciding if AG can be released, but the earlier articles say he wants to go to San Francisco. Will SF have a say if he is released?

 

[Knox]

Santa Cruz County (where he pled guilty to murder) is deciding if AG can be released, but the earlier articles say he wants to go to San Francisco. Will SF have a say if he is released?

According to what I have seen in other high-profile releases into the community, no they do not.

What is the new law to release inmates in California in 2024?
Beginning January 1, 2024, persons released from prison will have relocation options based on educational, treatment, housing or employment opportunities. These new rules will also apply to anyone already on Parole.

SB 990 - Office of State Public Defender​

 

[Knox]

Judge appoints new attorney to represent man convicted of murdering Maddy Middleton

Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Denine Guy appointed a new attorney Wednesday to represent Adrian “A.J.” Gonzalez in his juvenile detention release case, though future trial date…

www.santacruzsentinel.com

He’s got a new attorney, but no court date has been scheduled as of September 11.

 

[MsMarple]

November 7, 2024:
Jury selection in a trial to decide on the potential release of Madyson “Maddy” Middleton’s killer is set to begin Tuesday.

Trial set to start to determine detention extension for Maddy Middleton’s killer

Jury selection in a trial to decide on the potential release of Madyson “Maddy” Middleton’s killer is set to begin Tuesday.

www.santacruzsentinel.com

 

[MsMarple]

George further argued, "Nobody has seen a person like Adrian before. Nobody has seen a case like this before. Adrian went from zero to 100, and there is not one person who can say why."

Defense attorneys have long contended that Gonzalez was a depressed teen who acted out impulsively. He admitted that he was planning to kill Middleton in order to get sexual gratification, and he planned to kill himself afterwards, so he believed he would not live long enough to face any punishment for the crime.
…
He also admitted to strangling the girl for 30 minutes after luring her to his mother's apartment for ice cream, sexually assaulting her, and then when she showed signs of life and was moaning, stabbed her several times in the neck before attempting to dispose of her body in a recycling bin.

Santa Cruz Boy, Now a 25-Year-Old Man, Who Killed 8-Year-Old Neighbor Maddy Middleton, Begins Trial to Determine His Fate

Adrian Gonzalez, who has been jailed for nine years now for the brutal sexual assault and murder of a girl who lived in the same Santa Cruz apartment complex as him, heads to trial this week to determine if he should remain incarcerated.

sfist.com

Trial has started (I think) but I haven’t been able to get information on the proceedings.

But just rehashing the above it’s really hard to be confident that Adrian is ready to rejoin society. For that matter will he ever be a contributing member of society? I have doubts. JMO though.

 

[MsMarple]

According to this link jury selection started yesterday. Potential jurors were able to declare hardships or any other factors that would exclude them from the pool.

On Monday the 18th the attorneys will begin questioning them and hopefully agree on a jury.

Jury selection starts — again — in trial over release of Madyson Middleton’s killer, Adrian Gonzalez

The jury trial to determine the release of Adrian Gonzalez, Madyson Middleton’s killer, is finally moving forward after a significant delay. Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Denine Guy sent the issue of his release to a jury trial in early August, after a probable-cause hearing that...

lookout.co

 

[SophieRose]

From an article in Jul 2024. Clinical forensic psychologist tasked with conducting a “sex offense-specific risk assessment” for Gonzalez to determine how likely he is to repeat his offenses.

Madyson Middleton killer Adrian Gonzalez a ‘moderate’ risk of sexually reoffending, psychologist testifies

More witnesses took the stand in Adrian Gonzalez’s probable cause hearing Monday, when one psychologist said he is of “moderate” risk of sexually reoffending, but added that he did not exhibit signs of sexual sadism, necrophilia or pedophilia. The hearing will continue next Tuesday, July 30.

lookout.co

Mowrey said Gonzalez told her how he sexually assaulted and murdered Middleton and disposed of her body, but did not go into gruesome detail and did not express strong emotions. She also said that he acknowledged an interest in BDSM (bondage, discipline, sadism, masochism) , but not anything nonconsensual or “deviant.”

She also evaluated Gonzalez to determine if he is a pedophile, but said that there was no evidence to suggest that he is. “It has to be at least a period of six months of someone experiencing the recurrent, intense preoccupation with children,” said Mowrey, adding that Gonzalez did not show signs of necrophilia nor sexual sadism.

Snip

Across two different sex offense risk assessments, Gonzalez scored “above-average risk” on one and “moderate risk” on the other. In a personality assessment, Mowrey said he showed “elevated scores” on the schizophrenia scale, paranoia scale and psychopathic deviate scale, and added that the assessment depicted him as someone who is “very isolated and alienated from the world.” When asked if the consequences can be severe if a person with those characteristics acts out, she said yes. Neither attorney asked what exactly “severe consequences” could mean.

 

[JoeFromLB]

I hope he remains incarcerated for the next fifty years. JMO.

 

[Knox]

I hope he remains incarcerated for the next fifty years. JMO.

Make it the remainder of his life, I’d be good with that. This monster will reoffend if allowed to renter society. Why risk another life being taken? Who cares about his rights, he raped and killed an innocent little girl. I’m sick of the liberal feel good carp the California judical system is cramming down our throats!!!

God help us all if a jury decides in his favor.

 

[MsMarple]

Trial began on November 21:

[ADA Tara] George referred to Gonzalez as a “master at deception” who had deceived those around him before and after he raped and murdered Middleton in 2015, which she called “one of the most horrendous crimes this county has ever experienced.” She added that he did not appear remorseful at all following the crime.

Stevens, on the other hand, painted a picture of a person whose tumultuous upbringing gave him essentially no chance of stability, which ultimately proved devastating for his mental state in his teenage years.
…
“You’re going to hear how Adrian went to his friend’s house and they took a walk to Chipotle. You’re going to hear that this friend said Adrian was calm, collected and showed no signs of distress,” she said. “You’re going to hear that on that walk, they learn that Maddy is missing. What did Adrian say? He said, ‘Well, I hope they find her.’”
…
Stevens said that Gonzalez’s parents had a bad relationship when he was young, and he witnessed domestic violence during the “early formative stages of his life.”

Stevens said that Gonzalez’s mother had several domestic partners over the years, some who treated him well and others who neglected him. One of his mother’s partners put a gun to her head and threatened to kill her in front of Gonzalez, Stevens said.

Jury trial for Adrian Gonzalez’s release begins

The trial to determine Adrian Gonzalez’s freedom began Thursday afternoon after three days of jury selection. Attorneys gave their opening statements as they prepare for a multiweek trial that will stretch until at least the end of the year.

lookout.co

Much more at the link. Defense is essentially blaming Gonzalez’ mother for his violent behavior. This caused AJ to develop ideations of suicide. But unfortunately he couldn’t bring himself to do it so he thought if he committed a really horrible crime he’d hate himself enough to follow through.

Defense also said he’s been accepted into a male-only, out-of-county reentry facility if he’s released, and will have to register as a sex offender. Stevens argued this gives him a good path to reenter society, claiming Gonzalez has been rehabilitated, has a good plan, has support and should be released.