In an effort to address the escalating crisis of youth violence in Arizona's East Valley, the Arizona House has passed "Preston's Law"—a bill aimed at toughening penalties for assaults involving multiple attackers. The law, named after 16-year-old Preston Lord who was fatally assaulted by a group of teens at a party in 2023, seeks to upgrade such assaults to aggravated assault when the attacker has two or more accomplices, thus making the offense a Class 4 felony, according to ABC15. In a vote that was not straight down party lines, the bill garnered bipartisan support, with House Speaker Steve Montenegro asserting, "Mob violence will not be tolerated in Arizona," the vote therein culminating at 37-21.
This legislative action follows a series of violent events attributed to a group known as the Gilbert Goons, whose name surfaced after Lord's killing and other related incidents; involvement from the FBI and the scrutiny of East Valley police department investigations highlighted a pattern of teen violence, as reported by KTAR. From the assault in October 2022, which went unreported until the following December, to an attack outside a Gilbert In-N-Out Burger in August 2023, these incidents paint a timeline of escalating youth violence, setting a backdrop for the recent legislative action despite the fact there is no formal designation of the Gilbert Goons as a criminal street gang under Arizona law at this time.
Yet, the passage of this bill has not been without its critics. Some lawmakers, like Rep. Alexander Kolodin, voiced concerns that the measure might criminalize schoolyard scuffles, saying, "What this bill does instead is throw our kids under the bus," as he underscored the severity of turning school fights into felony charges. In contrast, Rep. Khyl Powell, representing an affected district, highlighted the protracted crime spree, questioning, "Why did a group of Hellions roam the town for two years where the police understood and knew all about it?" in a statement obtained by ABC15.
The law's proponents, such as its sponsor Rep. Matt Gress, argue it gives prosecutors the necessary tools to curb mob violence, an issue that reached a morbid climax with the death of Preston Lord, who was attacked by seven teenagers—all pled not guilty—in connection with which Queen Creek PD subsequently submitted charges against, in December 2023, a slew of assaults that had plagued the East Valley. However, the new law's actual effectiveness in curbing youth violence remains to be seen; it is now set before the Arizona Senate for further consideration, continuing a dialog that oscillates between the demand for justice and concerns about the potential for overcriminalization.
