EDITORIAL: We Are Done, Juvenile Felons Need Adult Consequences ASAP

Albuquerque –

ABQ RAW has reported on numerous violent incidents over the years, ranging from armed carjackings to cold-blooded murders. Recently, more than usual, we have observed that the perpetrators of these violent crimes committed in the the metro are increasingly under the age of 18. Countless victims have suffered from these crimes without receiving justice. New Mexico has reached a critical point, as exemplified by the recent ambush and killing of a 37-year-old man by a group of teens in Albuquerque this week.

Holding juveniles accountable as adults for serious offenses is a crucial step in deterring crime and protecting society. While some argue that juveniles are fundamentally different from adults due to their developmental stage, the nature of certain offenses demands a response that reflects the severity of the crime, regardless of the offender’s age. In cases of heinous acts like murder, rape, or armed robbery, the focus must shift from the age of the perpetrator to the impact of the crime on the victims and society at large.

Moreover, the deterrent effect of charging juveniles as adults cannot be ignored. When juveniles know they could face adult consequences for serious crimes, they may be less likely to engage in such behavior. This deterrence is crucial in preventing violent crimes and protecting public safety. The knowledge that they could be held to the same standards as adults may discourage some juveniles from committing serious offenses in the first place, thereby reducing the overall crime rate. These so called juveniles know how to game the system they are not idiots. They know the consequences faced as juveniles is nothing compared to the adult consequences.

As a media organization, it is very difficult or impossible to obtain booking photos and criminal complaints due to the privacy laws protecting teens. We recently visited the Juvenile Detention Center to obtain court and booking records for Jeremy Jones, the teen who killed an innocent man while he was protecting his property. We were informed that these records might not be public and that we would need to request them through a formal public records process. Our experience with the public request portals with the juvenile justice system have been burdensome and hopeless to obtain records.

We believe all taxpayers have the right to access public records related to violent felony crimes.

While we understand the importance of protecting children’s privacy, when it involves an adult crime, the public has a right to know the facts of the case and the appearance of the accused.

At crime scenes, we frequently observe teens being arrested, often displaying a tough demeanor and a sense of pride in committing their crimes. In one instance, we witnessed a teen lead Albuquerque Police on a chase around the city, which eventually ended with APD taking him into custody. While in handcuffs, he was mouthy with officers and proud of his criminal adventure. A lack of severe repercussions for juvenile offenders often fosters a sense of impunity, diminishing their concern for long-term implications.

The Juvenile Detention Center has faced issues with violent juvenile criminals causing riots and attacking other inmates and staff. A teen who was a mass murderer even escaped from the JDC, leading the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office on a manhunt. BCSO Sheriff John Allen and Second District Attorney Sam Bregman have been vocal about the need to update the children’s code to charge juveniles as adults. The code has not been updated since the 1970s. The juveniles who committed crimes in the 70’s are now grandparents and great grandparents and the lawmakers who made those rules are mostly dead or dying.

Here is a short list of violent crimes we have recently covered involving teens:

• Four teens that did a drive by and killed a 5-year-old
• A group of teens who shot at random throughout Albuquerque and led APD on a chase in SW Albuquerque
• A woman killed by a group of teens who stole her car and she confronted them in a parking lot
• A group of teens killed another teen and dumped the body in the Pajarito Mesa

The metro populace is becoming increasingly frustrated with lawmakers and decision-makers who appear to be sitting on the sidelines and doing nothing. The citizens of New Mexico do not feel safe, and there is constant anxiety among people who fear that today might be the day they are violently maimed or killed on the streets, or even killed in their own front yard like poor Mr. Sanchez this week.

The slaying of Mr. Sanchez is in some ways similar to the 2015 case of the beloved Spectators bartender, Steven Gerecke, who was shot and killed in his driveway. This homicide was nine years ago. Mr. Gerecke came home from working late and took his dog for a walk. When he returned from walking the dog, he found a group of six marauding teens in his garage and driveway. One of the teens gunned down Mr. Gerecke. In this murder case, the police arrested two 14-year-olds, one 15-year-old, two 16-year-olds, and one 17-year-old. Only one offender, Jeremiah King, was sentenced to 25 years and another, Christopher Rodriguez, was sentenced to 14 years, those two offenders were getting into trouble behind bars back in 2019.

It should be illegal for Santa Fe lawmakers to work on legislation such as “Favorite New Mexico Song,” “Favorite Red Chile Meal,” and “Favorite Posole on Tuesday” we are waiting for “favorite color of roadrunner poop” next. All non-sense legislation should be halted until they update the 1970s-era Children’s Code to charge violent teens as adults.

This editorial appears on ABQRAW’s social media sites and website. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the news site rather than any specific writers.

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