Family's agony as killer avoids trial with six-year plea deal.

Family's Call for Justice Goes Unheard as Six-Year Sentence Imposed

A Kern County courtroom became the setting for emotional pleas and a decisive ruling this week, concluding a case that has stretched on for over two years. Despite impassioned requests from a victim's family to take the matter to trial, a judge moved forward with sentencing the defendant, Bradley Perez, to a six-year term in state prison.

The legal proceedings stem from a fatal altercation in 2022. Perez had been charged with voluntary manslaughter following an incident that resulted in the death of a local man. The case was on the verge of proceeding to a jury trial when a pivotal development altered its course. Perez accepted a plea deal offered by the prosecution, changing his plea to no contest for the involuntary manslaughter charge.

A Family's Plea for a Full Trial

During the sentencing hearing, the atmosphere was tense as family members of the deceased directly addressed the court. They expressed a profound sense that a full trial was necessary to uncover the complete truth surrounding the events that led to their loss. For them, the plea agreement felt like an incomplete resolution, bypassing the public examination of evidence and witness testimony that a trial would provide.

One family member articulated their distress, stating that the lack of a trial left too many questions unanswered. They urged the judge to reject the plea and allow the case to proceed before a jury, hoping it would bring a more comprehensive form of justice and closure.

The Court's Final Decision

In his ruling, the presiding judge acknowledged the family's anguish and their right to be heard. However, he explained that the legal system must balance the desires of the victims with the procedural realities of the court. The no contest plea, while not an admission of guilt, is treated as such for sentencing purposes and is a standard part of judicial negotiations.

The judge determined that the negotiated sentence of six years was within the standard range for the charge and ultimately denied the family's request to vacate the plea. With the sentencing finalized, the case is now officially closed, leaving the family to grapple with an outcome they actively opposed.

What do you think?

• Does the practice of plea bargaining undermine the public's right to a transparent legal process, especially for the victims' families?


• Should judges have more power to reject plea deals when victims' families feel it denies them justice?


• Is a six-year sentence for an involuntary manslaughter conviction proportional, or does it seem too lenient for a loss of life?