Arizona Enacts New Law to Tackle Group Assaults Following Teen’s Tragic Death
In a significant legislative move, Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs has signed a new law aimed at enhancing penalties for group assaults. This new measure, resulting from the tragic beating of a teenager in Queen Creek in 2023, seeks to address and deter such violent attacks.
The victim, 16-year-old Preston Lord, fell prey to a group of teenagers known as the “Gilbert Goons,” who were reportedly involved in multiple similar assaults. The legislation named in his honor now permits harsher felony charges for those involved in group assaults.
Matt Gress, a Republican representative from Gilbert and the bill’s sponsor, emphasized Preston’s enduring influence, stating, “He is a symbol of why we act, why we legislate, and why we must never grow numb to injustice.”
Rachel Mitchell, the Republican Maricopa County Attorney, expressed that Preston’s Law provides her office with the ability to impose charges that reflect the gravity of such crimes. “I always knew that Preston was destined to do great things and pave the way as an upstanding young man. Of course, I never imagined that his impact would come through his death, but even in this unimaginable tragedy, he continues to inspire change,” said Autumn Curiel, Preston’s mother.
Initially, the offenders faced misdemeanor charges, which were elevated to Class 6 felonies. However, Mitchell noted, “It gave us something, but it just felt hollow because it was not nearly to the level of seriousness that what we were seeing was.”
To further combat teen violence, Mitchell highlighted the “Report, Don’t Repost” campaign initiated by her office. This initiative encourages individuals to report incidents of teen violence to law enforcement instead of sharing them online. Learn more about the campaign here.
The campaign has garnered interest from other states, amid concerns that instances of teen violence are on the rise.
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