In August 2023, Richard Kuehner’s son was viciously beaten by a group of teenagers outside an In-N-Out Burger in Gilbert, Arizona. After months of a half-hearted response from the Gilbert Police Department, several suspects were identified and charged with assault. Less than three weeks later, one of the suspects, Dereon Hayes, was arrested. He was given only three years of probation. Hayes was placed on probation as a result of the attack, and during his sentencing hearing he said he was “ashamed” and “ashamed” of his actions.
Hayes appears to have been arrested again less than two weeks later. KNXV TVOn November 2nd, Gilbert Police received a call reporting that Hayes had broken into a residence and refused to leave. When police arrived, Hayes admitted to illegally entering the building and getting into an altercation with a minor who lived there. The minor told police that Hayes had threatened them. According to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Department, the Probation Department is currently in the process of revoking Hayes’ probation.
The Maricopa County District Attorney’s Office, which approved the probation-only plea agreement, released the following statement:“We are aware that DeLeon Haynes was arrested by the Gilbert Police Department on multiple charges and violated the terms of his probation. Since DeLeon Haynes was sentenced on June 3, we have referred his petition for probation revocation to the Adult Probation Department. Any new charges will be reviewed by our office as they are filed. This defendant is on felony probation and our office expects him to adhere to the terms of his probation as set by the court. Any future actions regarding any probation violations will be determined by the court. We want this individual and others who have recently violated their probation to know that they are under observation and supervision. They will not be punished for continuing to terrorize and harm our community any longer.”
The evidence seems to suggest that probation isn’t working for members of the “Gilbert Goons,” the name given to local teenagers suspected in a string of violent incidents in the area. Jacob Pennington was given probation for another attack in 2022 at an In-N-Out Burger. Police arrest him on suspicion of underage drinking Literally the same day he was put on probation.
