Governor Hobbs Sign “Preston's Law”, aims at group attacks after the death of the teenager

Phoenix (Azfamilie) -Katie Hobbs, Governor of Arizona, signed the Bill 2611 house in the law and, after the death of the Teen Preston Lord of the East Valley Teenager, drove herself to group attacks.

The new legislation, which is better known as Preston's Law, determines harder punishments for attackers in one -sided attacks, which are also referred to as a swarm.

“The law of Preston ensures that those who commit violent acts as a group have real consequences,” said State Rep. Matt Gress, the sponsor of the draft law. “We saw what happens when mobs believe that they can act with impunity. This law sends a clear message: If you are committed to hurt someone, you will be held accountable. Arizona will not tolerate organized violence in our communities.”

Lord was brutally attacked more than a year ago before a Halloween party in Queen Creek, in an attack that sent shock waves in the East Valley and Arizona. The prosecutors said two days later in several blunt injuries that are due to this attack.

HB 2611 strengthens the penalties for severe attack cases to deter group or gang styling attacks. For example, extended punishments would be added in attack cases with two or more accomplices. These measures include increasing the seriousness of the indictment to a crime in class four, which creates a longer prison sentence.

“Preston's tragic death focused on the need for the law to meet this terrible trend. It is a new tool with which we can send a clear message that commit these cowardly attacks that they are definitely held accountable,” said Rachel Mitchell, Maricopa County. “I am deeply grateful to the legislators, employees and supporters who have worked very hard to change the law and the governor that they have given Preston's law their consent.”

Bridget Vega, a friend of the Lord family, supports the “Law of Preston”, which she calls a step in the right direction.

“If this law had been there, it would definitely have changed some of the cases that went through the youth courts,” said Vega.

“It is also important to be the fact that a crime in class four cannot be attributed to a criminal offense in contrast to a crime in class six. These are the problems we had with the current law,” said Mitchell during a press conference at the beginning of this year.

Last week the first of seven defendants who completed a deal with prosecutors in the murder of the Lord was convicted.

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