An independent candidate running for Los Angeles County District Attorney has criticized George Gascón, the incumbent, for implementing soft-on-crime policies that may have allowed a known gang member, Raymundo Duran, to be free and ultimately shoot a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy. Duran, who has a long history of violent crimes, allegedly shot Deputy Samuel Aispuro in a back at a stop light in West Covina, California. Despite multiple prior felony assaults and a manslaughter conviction, Duran had been sentenced to probation in 2021 for charges including hit-and-run and resisting arrest. The challenger, Nathan Hochman, claims that Gascón’s leniency with Duran led to the recent attack on Deputy Aispuro.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney has been criticized by his own prosecutors, law enforcement, and elected officials for his progressive criminal justice policies. Jason Lustig, a deputy district attorney, has stated that many are demoralized by the increasing number of victims due to Gascón’s lenient approach to criminal sentencing. Hochman has highlighted Duran’s violent criminal history, including the stabbing death of his boss at a Jiffy Lube in 2002 and subsequent assaults on a guard at Salinas Valley State Prison and another prisoner with a makeshift knife. Durain has also had a history of parole violations and was arrested in 2021 for unlawful possession of a firearm, which could have resulted in a six-year sentence but instead resulted in a plea deal for two years, four months.
Duran was arrested in San Diego County following the shooting of Deputy Aispuro and faces charges of first-degree attempted murder of a peace officer, assault against a peace officer, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Gascón has vowed to vigorously prosecute Duran to the fullest extent of the law in response to the incident, which he described as a “senseless and unprovoked shooting.” Despite the criticism, Gascón has continued to stand by his progressive criminal justice policies, which have focused on reducing incarceration rates and implementing alternatives to incarceration for non-violent offenders.
The attack on Deputy Aispuro has reignited debates around criminal justice policies in Los Angeles County and the potential consequences of leniency towards repeat offenders with violent criminal histories. Hochman has called for a tougher stance on sentencing for individuals like Duran, arguing that longer sentences could prevent future violent crimes. As the election for Los Angeles County District Attorney approaches, the contrast between Gascón’s progressive approach and the calls for stricter sentencing from his challengers highlights the ongoing tensions between reforming the criminal justice system and ensuring public safety.
The implications of the attack on Deputy Aispuro go beyond the immediate incident, raising questions about the balance between rehabilitation and punishment in the criminal justice system. The case of Raymundo Duran serves as a reminder of the complex challenges faced by law enforcement officers and prosecutors in addressing violent crime and recidivism. Ultimately, the outcome of the election for Los Angeles County District Attorney may determine the direction of criminal justice policies in the region and the potential impact on public safety.