A Los Angeles teenager who escaped a harsh prison sentence after being convicted of murder was freed by District Attorney George Gascón and charged with a second murder less than a year later.
Denmonne Lee was convicted in 2018 after a robbery at a gas station in Antelope Valley left former Marine John Ruh dead. While the 16-year-old was not the shooter, he knew Ruh and provided the gun to his co-defendant Deonta ‘Fatboy’ Johnson, according to official records.
Gascón took office two years after Ruh’s murder and prohibited prosecutors from trying juveniles as adults, so Lee was ordered to serve time at the Secure Juvenile Treatment Center in Sylmar until he turned 25, the court reported. Los Angeles Times.
A year after his conviction, officials said Lee “responded very well” to programs while in prison and parole officials moved him from the Sylmar facility to a rehabilitation-focused setting in Malibu.
Last June, the 22-year-old was sent to a rehab facility, enrolled in community college and found a job at a nonprofit, according to the LA Times.
A Los Angeles teenager who escaped a harsh prison sentence after being convicted of murder was freed by District Attorney George Gascón (pictured) and charged with a second murder less than a year later.
But in April he was arrested and charged with playing a role in the Jan. 19 murder of Eric Ruffins, 28, in Compton.
Ruh’s widow, Michelle Brace, told the court this month: ‘Denmonne, you were given a gift and you wasted it. Against my family’s wishes, I was hoping that you would change and help your community.
‘I will always pray for you and your safety. You broke my heart when I found out you were in trouble again.
‘You gave me hope when you apologized for killing… my husband. I forgave you, now I feel like a fool.’
Brace told the LA Times that he plans to move out of California, but not before voting against Gascón, one of the country’s most progressive prosecutors, in November.
Denmonne Lee was convicted of murder after a 2018 gas station robbery resulted in the death of former Marine John Ruh (pictured)
While the 16-year-old was not the shooter, he knew Ruh and provided the gun to his co-defendant Deonta ‘Fatboy’ Johnson, according to official records.
Anti-Gascón activists often cite cases in which they say his ban on trying minors as adults has led to more crimes.
After massive backlash, Gascón’s office has created a method for officials to transfer cases to adult court.
Following Ruh’s killing, police said Lee walked away “smiling” after the veteran was shot three times.
Lee reportedly bragged about the murder to his girlfriend and said his gun “had a body in it.” Prosecutors also claimed that Lee threatened his girlfriend while she was in custody, saying she was going to shoot him for ‘snitching’.
The district attorney’s office told the LA Times in a statement that regardless of Gascón’s politics, Lee should have remained in juvenile court because he was not the shooter and had no criminal record.
But in April he was arrested and charged with playing a role in the Jan. 19 murder of Eric Ruffins (pictured), 28, in Compton.
Gascón’s November opponent, Nathan Hochman, a former federal prosecutor, has sought to capitalize on anger over crime and homelessness, issues that led voters to unseat San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin in a recall election in 2022.
In his campaign ads, Hochman, a defense attorney, has promised to change the direction of the district attorney, saying, “It’s time we had a district attorney who fights for victims, not criminals.”
Gascón was elected on a platform of criminal justice reform in 2020, following the killing of George Floyd at the hands of police. He faced a recall attempt within his first 100 days and a second attempt later, but both failed to appear on the ballot.
During his first term, Gascón immediately imposed his campaign agenda: not to seek the death penalty; not prosecute minors as if they were adults; ending cash bail for misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies; and no longer introduce enhancements that would result in stricter sentences for certain elements of crimes, recidivism or gang membership.
Ruh’s widow, Michelle Brace, said she plans to move out of California, but not before voting against Gascón, one of the country’s most progressive prosecutors, in November.
He was forced to reverse some of his most important reforms early in his term, such as initially ordering the removal of more than 100 improvements and elevating a hate crime from a misdemeanor to a felony.
The move angered victims’ advocates, and Gascón backtracked, restoring improvements in cases involving children, the elderly and people targeted because of their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or disability.
His opponents have pledged to reverse many or nearly all of his most progressive policies, such as his first orders to eliminate the filing of sentencing enhancement requests.