A Bronx judge has come under scrutiny for sentencing a former New York City police sergeant to a prison term of three to nine years after previously offering a lenient ruling for a young man involved in a fatal assault. The judge, Guy Mitchell, had previously sentenced 19-year-old Branley Gonzalez to just nine months in prison in 2018 after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter and attempted assault.
This past Thursday, Eric Duran was given a sentence for the manslaughter of Eric Duprey, a drug suspect who died after Duran threw a picnic cooler at him during a police chase last August. Duran, who is 38, could have faced a suspended sentence of up to 15 years.
In an earlier case involving Gonzalez, Mitchell had even suggested that the young man might not face any prison time, but changed his stance after media coverage began. In May 2017, Gonzalez had violently attacked 69-year-old Lucio Bravo, who had reportedly provoked him by insulting someone close to him. Bravo subsequently fell into a coma due to the assault.
Despite requests from Manhattan prosecutors for at least 10 years in prison for Gonzalez, who was said to be affiliated with the Gorilla Stones gang, Mitchell opted for a lighter sentence. The daughter of the victim had also urged for a more severe punishment, expressing her belief in the importance of accountability for criminal actions.
The judge had initially indicated that Gonzalez could avoid prison altogether if he pled guilty and maintained good behavior, but later reversed this decision, resulting in a minimum nine-month incarceration. Gonzalez’s attorney argued for leniency due to the young man’s troubled upbringing, which included familial abuse.
In the case involving Duran, Mitchell rejected the argument from Duran’s defense that he acted to protect another officer during a chaotic situation. Instead, he justified the sentence by emphasizing the lasting impact of the crime, noting that the victim would never reunite with his family.
