SANTA CRUZ — The case of an accused child killer was postponed in Superior Court in Santa Cruz Tuesday morning.
In the courtroom of Timothy Volkmann, it was determined that A.J. Gonzalez’s, now 18, next court appearance will be Feb. 20 for a delayed arraignment.
Madyson Middleton was murdered at the Tannery Arts Center in Santa Cruz on July 26, 2015. Gonzalez, who lived at the same complex, faces murder, kidnapping and several sexual assault charges, with special circumstances of lying in wait.
“I’m not surprised a bit; that’s the way our legal justice system works; it goes round and round and round,” said Maddy’s grandfather Bruce Jordan. “I’m convinced that that is how our legal system works; justice is slow in our system. It’s exhausting; it’s just the American justice system working its slow way.”
In November 2016, voters approved Prop. 57, which gave the courts the discretion to determine whether a minor could be tried as an adult in extreme cases, including homicide.
“I agree 100 percent with the decision that was made by the judge in this case. I respect that decision,” said Assistant District Attorney Rafael Vasquez.
If found guilty, Gonzalez faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.
