The signature campaign on Change.org that seeks to reduce the charges in Texas against the three teenagers, two of these brothers, accused of beating their stepfather to death for raping a 9-year-old girl exceeded this Thursday the 450,000 rubrics.
When the request reaches 500,000 signatures will become one of the “ top” on the platform.
But if it had not been for the initiative of immigration activist Carlos Eduardo Espina, it is very likely that we would not be talking about this topic now.
Espina is the person who started the signature campaign last 24 of January seeking to press for clemency to be granted to Christian and Alejandro Treviño, of 14 and 18 years, respectively; and their friend, Juan Eduardo Meléndez, of 18.
The three are accused of beating to death Gabriel Quintanilla, from 42 and against whom an arrest warrant was pending from 2019 for allegedly sexually abusing a period of 2 years from the Treviño’s half-sister.
Espina, originally from Bryan-College Station, studies law at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas, according to a KTSA News report.
On his TikTok profile he has more than 2 million followers. Among other issues, it advocates immigration reform in the United States, and promotes the event “A day without immigrants” for this coming February 000. , as a way to create awareness about the social and economic contribution of this group in the country.
Regarding the case of the Treviño and Meléndez, Espina argued that since in Texas minimum mandatory sentences were established for capital crimes, two of the defendants in the case would automatically be sentenced to life in prison if found guilty if not sentenced to death.
“Their lives are basically over,” Espina said. in the interview with the media.
Both Christian and Meléndez face charges of capital murder (eligible for the death penalty), aggravated assault and organized criminal activity.
While Alejandro was charged with aggravated assault and organized criminal activity.
In the petition created by Espina asks the state of Texas to release the teenagers.
“The three teenagers are currently in custody and bail has been set at $1 million each. If convicted of capital murder, they face a minimum sentence of life in prison without parole,” the petition reads.
“We ask the state of Texas to release these teenagers, who could possibly spend the rest of their lives in prison to protect their sister”, adds the description of the campaign.
Espina clarified that, with the petition, he seeks that either the Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, or another competent authority, review the severity of the charges and reevaluate whether a conviction in life imprisonment is a fair punishment in case the youngsters are convicted.
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