Parents at Madera rally want tougher consequences for their children’s deaths

MADERA, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – A crowd of parents gathered outside the Madera County Superior Court on Monday, demanding tougher consequences for juveniles charged with murder.

The protest follows a similar demonstration in Hanford last month, which was also in response to a growing number of violent crimes committed by teens in the Central Valley.

On Monday, the mothers stood in support of Samantha Bautista, whose 13-year-old son, Jacob Munoz, was stabbed to death. Also there was Madera County District Attorney Sally Moreno.

“It takes a few years,” said District Attorney Sally Moreno. “So you have a core of people who’ve been harmed by it, and people who are willing to stand up and lead.”

The mothers say the core of the problem is Proposition 57, a 2016 law that, in part, altered the treatment of juvenile offenders in California’s justice system. Moreno says the law removed prosecutors’ discretion to charge minors as adults in certain serious cases.

“It used to be before Prop 57 that prosecutors like myself had the option to file against minors in adult court,” Moreno said. “Prop 57 took that discretion away from us. Basically, 14, 13 and under, there are no consequences for crime.”

Many of the women at Monday’s demonstration are mothers who have lost children to violence, including Stephanie Tellez, Susan Grote, Brenda Harris, and Megan Halliwell. Each shared personal stories of grief and frustration, hoping their collective voice will push lawmakers toward change.

Even fathers are joining the movement. Stephen Quick, whose son Caleb was killed, says he believes the current system fails to deliver justice.

“Prop 57 has really messed up the justice system, in my opinion,” Quick said. “They’ll be out at 25 and just be able to live a happy, normal life, while my son’s life is gone.”

In Jacob Munoz’s case, DA Moreno says she is hopeful that the minor accused of Munoz’s death will receive the maximum sentence allowed under current law, and hopes the movement of moms in the valley will continue.

“I wish them every success,” Moreno said of the protestors. “Because Prop 57 was a proposition, it’ll probably have to be another proposition that changes it. These people being heard and these people protesting is the start of something that could change it and could make it better in the future.”

The next protest is planned in Fresno, where a court hearing is scheduled for the teens accused of killing Caleb Quick.