Latest news with #Gascón
New York Post
19-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
LA County DA Nathan Hochman promises crackdown on illegal immigrants: ‘The fun is over'
Tough-on-crime Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman is doubling down on border crossings and vowed that criminals will now be held 'fully accountable for their illegal actions.' Hochman, a Republican-turned-Independent, defeated incumbent progressive prosecutor George Gascón by a 20-point margin. Advertisement Gascón was considered by many voters to be soft on crime. 'I am standing at the border between LA County and San Bernardino County where criminals used to enjoy crossing in the LA direction, thinking that little to no consequences would occur if they stole, robbed and engaged in criminal conduct,' Hochman shared in a video posted on his X account on Sunday. 'Times have changed! The fun is over. A new DA was elected. And criminals in LA County will now be prosecuted and held fully accountable for their illegal actions,' he continued.' Hochman, a former federal prosecutor and lifelong Los Angeles resident, campaigned as a 'hard middle' candidate, rejecting both mass incarceration and the 'public safety failure' of Gascón's liberal policies, which Hochman said led to increased crime and a lack of consequences for juvenile offenders. Advertisement 3 Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman speaks to reporters outside of an LA courthouse on May 9, 2025. Getty Images He also previously served as the president of the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission and accused Gascón of 'catastrophic incompetence' on the campaign trail and vowed to restore order and common sense. While in office, Gascón survived two recall attempts as voters voiced concern over his policies. He also co-authored the infamous Proposition 47, a 2014 voter-approved measure that downgraded most thefts from felonies to misdemeanors if the amount stolen were under $950, and reclassified some felony drug offenses as misdemeanors. Advertisement 3 Mexican national Manuel Seberiano Garcia-Muñoz was arrested in Los Angeles for illegally re-entering the US. HSILosAngeles/X 3 Jaime Gonzalez Alvarez, a suspected member fo the Citron Street gang was arrested in Los Angeles for illegally being in the US. HSILosAngeles/X Despite political differences between voters, public safety is a crossover issue, said Hochman. 'I spoke to ultra-left liberals, independents and conservative Republicans. And it turns out that even though they don't agree on much, they do agree that making sure that the district attorney prioritizes their safety and implements policies that will hold criminals accountable for their actions in a smart and proportional manner really matters,' he said.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Why the Menendez Brothers Being Resentenced to Life in Prison Means Possible Freedom
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." More than three decades after being arrested for murdering their parents in their Beverly Hills home, Lyle and Erik Menendez were resentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole in a Los Angeles courthouse on Tuesday. But for the first time, this signals the possibility of freedom for the Menendez brothers, who until now have been currently serving life sentences without the possibility of parole since their March 1996 conviction. Their case will now go to California Governor Gavin Newsom and the state parole board. Judge Michael V. Jesic of Los Angeles Superior Court issued the decision following a day of testimony from family members, who said the brothers had transformed their lives in prison through education and self-help programs, and asked the court to reduce the sentences for the 1989 murders. As reported by The New York Times, Judge Jesic said he was most shocked by the amount of letters from corrections officers written on behalf of the brothers. 'I'm not suggesting they should be released. That's not for me to decide,' the judge said, per the NYT. 'I do believe they have done enough over the last 35 years to get that chance.' Under the California constitution, the Governor can review parole grants recommended by the Board of Parole Hearings. The review, which can take up to 150 days, considers whether the person poses an unreasonable risk to public safety. The journey to the parole board has been in motion for months now. Last fall, Los Angeles County district attorney George Gascón said he would be recommending resentencing for the brothers, who were convicted for the first-degree murder of their parents. 'I will never imply that what we're doing here is to excuse their you get abused, the right path is to call the police,' Gascón said at the time. 'Even though they didn't think they would ever be let free, they engaged in a different journey—a journey of redemption and a journey of rehabilitation." However, in March, Gascón's successor, district attorney Nathan Hochman, withdrew that recommendation, arguing that 'based on the current state of the record and the Menendez brothers' current and continual failure to show full insight and accept full responsibility for their murders,' Hochman said in a statement at the time. The Menendez brothers' case received renewed attention last year, thanks to Netflix's Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story and the Menendez brothers documentary. The Menendez case first unfolded amid the upheaval of 1990s Los Angeles, marked by public skepticism about sexual abuse claims and sensational trial coverage. Their first trial in 1993 ended in mistrials during a period of citywide unrest following the Rodney King verdict. A second trial, held after O.J. Simpson's acquittal, imposed stricter courtroom rules—banning cameras and limiting abuse testimony—leading to the brothers' conviction and life sentences without parole. But in recent years, with younger generations have learned about the case online and rallied behind the brothers on social media, seeing them as victims of a flawed justice system as well as long-overlooked sexual abuse, addressed in the Netflix series and documentary. Both brothers admitted guilt and took responsibility during the resentencing hearing on Tuesday, per NBC News. 'My actions were criminal, selfish, cruel and cowardly. I have no excuse, no justification for what I did. I take full responsibility for my crimes,' Erik Menendez told the court, per NBC. 'After the killings, I denied all responsibility. I am sorry for these lies. There is no excuse for my behavior.' You Might Also Like 12 Weekend Getaway Spas For Every Type of Occasion 13 Beauty Tools to Up Your At-Home Facial Game
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Yahoo
Breaking Down the Menendez Brothers' Legal Paths to Freedom
The Menendez brothers, Erik and Lyle, have been in prison for over 35 years. Credit - Ted Soqui/Sygma via Getty Image Nearly three decades after Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted of murdering their parents in a Beverly Hills mansion, the brothers—whose case was thrust back into the spotlight by Ryan Murphy's 2023 docuseries—may be edging closer to freedom. This week, they are set to appear virtually in a Los Angeles courtroom as their lawyers argue for a resentencing that could open the door to parole, marking a pivotal moment in one of America's most notorious criminal cases. The prospect of resentencing emerged last October, when then-L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón announced he was 'keeping an open mind' about the case. In the months that followed, the brothers' family launched a campaign, "Justice for Erik and Lyle," urging officials to reconsider the life-without-parole sentences handed down in the 1990s. Gascón subsequently recommended their terms be reduced to 50 years to life, which would make them eligible for parole under California law. The resentencing effort is just one of several legal avenues now being pursued in an effort to secure the brothers' release. Here are the paths available to Eric and Kyle, now aged 54 and 57 respectively. This Tuesday and Wednesday are crucial for this path to release, in which the Menendez brothers will look towards Los Angeles County Superior Judge Michael Jesic to decide whether to proceed with former D.A. Gascón's recommendation. The hearings had been delayed for months, complicated by the arrival of District Attorney Nathan Hochman, who has taken a markedly different view of the case than his predecessor. In April, Hochman moved to withdraw Gascón's recommendation, arguing that he did not believe the brothers had taken full responsibility for their crimes. This move was then rejected by Judge Jesic, paving the way for this week's hearings to take place. The brothers' longtime defense attorney, Mark Geragos, said he will call on at least seven family members to testify. It remains unclear whether the brothers will speak. Since the brothers were both under 26 years old at the time of their crimes, if they are resentenced, they will be eligible for parole immediately under California law. Alongside the court proceedings, a separate clemency request sits with California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Newsom has scheduled a parole board hearing date of June 13, to assess whether the two brothers pose a threat to the public. Under state law, parole can be granted if an inmate is no longer considered 'an unreasonable risk of danger to society.' On his podcast 'This is Gavin Newsom' in February, Newsom explained that the hearing would include the opinions of various public safety experts and forensic psychologists. 'There's no guarantee of outcome here,' Newsom said. "My office conducts dozens and dozens of these clemency reviews on a consistent basis but this process simply provides more transparency, which I think is important in this case, and more due diligence before I make any determination for clemency.' The final, and least likely path, lies in the 'habeas corpus' petition filed by the brothers' attorneys in 2023, seeking a new trial based on what they describe as newly discovered evidence. Central to the new evidence is a letter from Erik Menendez when he was 17 to a cousin, describing alleged sexual abuse by his father, Jose Menendez — claims that formed the crux of the brothers' defense during their 1996 trial. Their legal team also cite allegations made in 2023 by Roy Rossello, a former member of the boy band Menudo, who claims he was raped by Jose Menendez. To succeed, the petition must meet a high legal bar: the evidence must be new, credible, admissible, and could not be discovered at the time of the trial. Contact us at letters@
Time Magazine
13-05-2025
- Time Magazine
Will the Menendez Brothers Be Released? Breaking Down their Legal Paths to Freedom
Nearly three decades after Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted of murdering their parents in a Beverly Hills mansion, the brothers—whose case was thrust back into the spotlight by Ryan Murphy's 2023 docuseries —may be edging closer to freedom. This week, they are set to appear virtually in a Los Angeles courtroom as their lawyers argue for a resentencing that could open the door to parole, marking a pivotal moment in one of America's most notorious criminal cases. The prospect of resentencing emerged last October, when then-L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón announced he was 'keeping an open mind' about the case. In the months that followed, the brothers' family launched a campaign, " Justice for Erik and Lyle," urging officials to reconsider the life-without-parole sentences handed down in the 1990s. Gascón subsequently recommended their terms be reduced to 50 years to life, which would make them eligible for parole under California law. The resentencing effort is just one of several legal avenues now being pursued in an effort to secure the brothers' release. Here are the paths available to Eric and Kyle, now aged 54 and 57 respectively. Resentencing Track This Tuesday and Wednesday are crucial for this path to release, in which the Menendez brothers will look towards Los Angeles County Superior Judge Michael Jesic to decide whether to proceed with former D.A. Gascón's recommendation. The hearings had been delayed for months, complicated by the arrival of District Attorney Nathan Hochman, who has taken a markedly different view of the case than his predecessor. In April, Hochman moved to withdraw Gascón's recommendation, arguing that he did not believe the brothers had taken full responsibility for their crimes. This move was then rejected by Judge Jesic, paving the way for this week's hearings to take place. The brothers' longtime defense attorney, Mark Geragos, said he will call on at least seven family members to testify. It remains unclear whether the brothers will speak. Since the brothers were both under 26 years old at the time of their crimes, if they are resentenced, they will be eligible for parole immediately under California law. Clemency Alongside the court proceedings, a separate clemency request sits with California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Newsom has scheduled a parole board hearing date of June 13, to assess whether the two brothers pose a threat to the public. Under state law, parole can be granted if an inmate is no longer considered 'an unreasonable risk of danger to society.' On his podcast 'This is Gavin Newsom' in February, Newsom explained that the hearing would include the opinions of various public safety experts and forensic psychologists. 'There's no guarantee of outcome here,' Newsom said. "My office conducts dozens and dozens of these clemency reviews on a consistent basis but this process simply provides more transparency, which I think is important in this case, and more due diligence before I make any determination for clemency.' Habeas Corpus The final, and least likely path, lies in the 'habeas corpus' petition filed by the brothers' attorneys in 2023, seeking a new trial based on what they describe as newly discovered evidence. Central to the new evidence is a letter from Erik Menendez when he was 17 to a cousin, describing alleged sexual abuse by his father, Jose Menendez — claims that formed the crux of the brothers' defense during their 1996 trial. Their legal team also cite allegations made in 2023 by Roy Rossello, a former member of the boy band Menudo, who claims he was raped by Jose Menendez. To succeed, the petition must meet a high legal bar: the evidence must be new, credible, admissible, and could not be discovered at the time of the trial.
Boston Globe
13-05-2025
- Boston Globe
LA judge to decide whether the Menendez brothers should be freed
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Due to wildfires in the LA area, and disputes between LA prosecutors and defense attorneys, the hearings were delayed for months. Advertisement The case has captured the public's attention for decades — and last year, the Netflix drama " Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story " and documentary 'The Menendez Brothers' brought new attention to the case. Supporters of the brothers have flown in from across the country to attend rallies and hearings in the past few months. Here's what to expect this week: Judge to rule on a lesser sentence The resentencing hearing will center on whether the brothers have been rehabilitated in prison and deserve a lesser sentence of 50 years to life. That would make them eligible for parole under California's youthful offender law because they committed the crime under the age of 26. Advertisement Their defense attorney, Mark Geragos, said in April he may ask the judge to reduce their charges to manslaughter, potentially allowing them to be immediately released. Geragos said last Friday that he plans to call at least seven family members to testify at the hearings. As in previous proceedings, the brothers will appear virtually. It was unclear if they will testify. Los Angeles County prosecutors will be arguing against the resentencing. They say the brothers have not taken complete responsibility for the crime. Prosecutors will likely reference the preliminary findings from a forensic psychologist who looked at whether the brothers pose a risk to society if released, an assessment ordered by the state parole board. The admissibility of the results in court have been a point of contention for the two sides, as they have not been made public, but the judge said last Friday that some parts can be included. Former district attorney and family support resentencing The previous LA County District Attorney George Gascón had opened the door to possible freedom for the brothers last fall by asking a judge to reduce their sentences. His office said the case would've been handled differently today due to modern understandings of sexual abuse and trauma, and the brothers' rehabilitation over three decades in prison. A resentencing petition laid out by Gascón focuses on the brothers' accomplishments and rehabilitation. The brothers' attorneys say their clients have worked hard to better themselves and give back to the prison community. The extended Menendez family, with the exception of an uncle who died in March, has said they fully forgive the brothers for what they did and want them to be freed. Advertisement Since their conviction, the brothers have gotten an education, participated in self-help classes and started various support groups for their fellow inmates. The new LA prosecutor changed course The current district attorney Nathan Hochman reversed course from Gascón and opposed the brothers' resentencing. Hochman's office has said it does not believe that the brothers were sexually abused by their father. Prosecutors also say the brothers have not admitted to lying during their trial. Recently, they cited the forensic psychologist's analysis that said the brothers had recently broken prison rules by smuggling cellphones inside, which Hochman argued demonstrated an inability to regulate their own behavior. It came to the conclusion that they were 'moderately more likely' than others to engage in violence in the community, Hochman said. With Hochman in charge, prosecutors attempted twice to withdraw their office's resentencing petition. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic ruled both times that the resentencing hearings could continue despite their opposition. The judge could decide on the resentencing from the bench during the hearing or issue a written ruling later.
