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Jury selection begins for Adrian Gonzalez release trial

Jury selection began Monday for the Santa Cruz man who was convicted as a minor of raping and murdering an 8-year-old girl in 2015. According to the Santa Cruz County District Attorney's Office, Adrian Gonzalez was 15 when he raped and murdered Maddy Middleton. He was convicted and punished for his crimes, but because he was a minor at the time of conviction, he will be eligible for release from a juvenile detention center when he turns 25. Santa Cruz Superior Court Judge Denine Guy ruled that a trial will be held to determine if Gonzalez is suitable for release. Guy said Gonzalez still poses a potential risk to public safety. A change of venue to move the trial to another county was denied Friday. Questionnaires were given to potential jurors on Monday. The trial will last the rest of the week, according to the District Attorney's Office. Jury selection will resume with questioning of the remaining jurors on Monday, August 26, 2024. For more coverage on the Central Coast's biggest issues, click here | Download our app | Download Very Local

SANTA CRUZ, California —

Jury selection began Monday for the Santa Cruz man who was convicted as a minor of raping and murdering an 8-year-old girl in 2015.

According to the Santa Cruz County District Attorney's Office, Adrian Gonzalez was 15 years old when he raped and murdered Maddy Middleton.

He was convicted and punished for his crimes, but since he was a minor at the time of his conviction, he can be released from the youth prison at the age of 25.

Judge Denine Guy of the Superior Court in Santa Cruz ruled that a trial should be held to determine whether Gonzalez can be released. Guy said Gonzalez still poses a potential threat to public safety.

The request to move the trial to another district was denied on Friday.

Questionnaires were distributed to potential jurors on Monday. The trial will continue for the rest of the week, according to prosecutors.

Jury selection will resume with questioning of the remaining jurors on Monday, August 26, 2024.

For more reports on the most important issues on the Central Coast, click here | Download our app | Download Very Local

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