I updated this story yesterday when DA George Gascon’s office was forced to admit that, contrary to their initial statement, the LA County Sheriff’s office did not approve of the outcome in this hit and run case. In fact, the Sheriff’s office had nothing to do with this case. What I missed yesterday was that DA Gascon also took a stab at defending the outcome of this case on Twitter. Naturally, Gascon claims any disagreement with his office is “misinformation.”

After reviewing the evidence, our office charged the minor with the most serious offenses possible under the law: two counts of felony assault & one count of felony leaving the scene of an accident that caused injury without exchanging information. The minor pleaded guilty. 2/6

— George Gascón (@LADAOffice) June 6, 2022

Were these the most serious offenses possible? We’ll come back to that in a moment.

Also contrary to media reports, our office did not make an offer, or select the sentence, in this case. After reviewing the evidence & the minor’s history with the juvenile system, the County Probation Department recommended a sentence that the judge agreed was appropriate. 4/6

— George Gascón (@LADAOffice) June 6, 2022

Unfortunately, opponents of the District Attorney are attempting to capitalize on this incident & are using the victim to advance the false premise that this sentencing is tied to the DA’s criminal reform policies. The truth is our office simply followed California law. 6/6

— George Gascón (@LADAOffice) June 6, 2022

Fox News’ Michael Ruiz reported last night that at least two prosecutor disagrees with the DA’s claim about these being the top charges conceivable in this case.

“Gascon’s statement is misleading for several reasons,” said Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor turned plaintiff’s lawyer who has experience trying hit-and-run cases in both criminal and civil courts.

“The defendant was charged with assault causing great bodily injury, which isn’t a ‘strike’ under California’s three strikes law, when he could have been charged with assault with a deadly weapon, which is a strike,” he told Fox News Digital Monday. “A vehicle can be a deadly weapon under California law.”

The suspect also could have faced multiple additional felony charges, he said, including driving under the influence and vehicle theft…

“George is trying to explain his way out of not doing his job. It’s not working,” said Jonathan Hatami, a deputy district attorney who rose to prominence as the lead prosecutor in the Gabriel Fernandez case. “We all see through his false ‘data and science.’ The appropriate charges should have been two counts of PC 245(a)(1) Felony Assault with a Deadly Weapon to wit Automobile, one count of felony hit-and-run, and one count of felony unlawful taking of vehicle.”

This is something that makes no sense to me. According to the police reports this 16-year-old kid had no license to drive, stole a car and was high when this happened. But he apparently wasn’t charged for stealing the car, for driving without a license or for a DUI. Why not? But the biggest mystery may be why his prior criminal history didn’t lead to a more serious sentence. This is a 16-year-old who already had a prior felony:

Additionally, the suspect was on probation at the time of the incident for felony poisoning after he spiked a girl’s drink at a high school in 2019, Fox News’ Bill Melugin reported Sunday.

This kid could probably have gotten 5 months just for violating his probation but somehow it seems none of that mattered. Needless to say, the mother who was run over is not happy with Gascon’s excuses.

NEW: Just spoke with the mother who was run over by this juvenile. She was unaware of his criminal history, or that he was on probation when the hit & run took place. She is furious about the light sentence, and the way this case was handled.
Her new statement to @FoxNews 👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/DOKF5bCmFv

— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) June 6, 2022

Bill Melugin was on Tucker Carlson’s show last night to talk about the case.

The 16 y/o hit & run driver who mowed down a mom & baby in Venice was on felony probation for spiking a girl’s drink, had no driver’s license, and was driving a stolen car.
Critics say DA Gascon’s office should have filed PC 245(a)(1) ADW charges, but didn’t, cause it’s a strike. pic.twitter.com/qzJpI9n69b

— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) June 7, 2022

Finally, as Melugin mentioned at the end of that clip, the recall campaign is getting very close to securing enough signatures to get this on the ballot. They need about 70,000 more signatures over the next month.

🚨UPDATE🚨

Sign the petition! https://t.co/NKtY22oJMK pic.twitter.com/ac0qXhejwi

— RecallDAGeorgeGascon (@DAGasconRecall) June 2, 2022