Justice workers praise Adrian Gonzalez’s treatment progress as release trial enters monthlong pause

Mental health professionals and youth justice advocates described Adrian Gonzalez, 25, as engaged, respectful and committed to rehabilitation during testimony Thursday — the final day before a trial to determine whether to release Gonzalez starts a monthlong recess.

Gonzalez, who was 15 when he raped and murdered 8-year-old Madyson Middleton in Santa Cruz in 2015, received positive comments from witnesses who worked with him during his detention, even as they acknowledged some of his struggles with mental health, bullying and depression while in custody.

Steven Capasso, a retired therapist who worked for the county, told Gonzalez defense attorney Charlie Stevens on Thursday that his main position was working at juvenile hall as a therapist. Reviewing his records of Gonzalez from a period from 2015 to 2017, he said Gonzalez had scored highly on a test to measure whether he was at risk of self-harm, which Capasso said indicated concern.

But, Capasso added, as he became acquainted with Gonzalez, he learned the young man was aware of his depression and was working to address it: “He did report that his depression started to lift after maybe a couple of months after we started working together,” Capasso said. He added that some of Gonzalez’s depression stemmed from his sometimes-difficult relationship with his mother — her visits occasionally went poorly and sometimes she would cancel.

Capasso said Gonzalez’s treatment by other inmates at juvenile hall was also negatively affecting his mental health. The therapist said he knew Gonzalez was “harassed and bullied,” but never witnessed it himself.

“Because of the nature of the crime and other youth finding out about it and ostracizing him,” Capasso said, adding that Gonzalez often isolated himself from the other inmates. “I know of one instant where he was attacked by another youth.”

Prosecutor witnesses previously testified that while Gonzalez did well in treatment, there were concerns surrounding his authenticity. Capasso, however, said he felt that Gonzalez was authentic, and presented as “calm, alert, respectful and ready to work.” He did, however, sometimes have a flat affect — or general lack of expression.

Prosecutor and Chief Deputy District Attorney Tara George cross-examined Capasso about Gonzalez’s mental state. Capasso said Gonzalez was placed on a “special watch,” which means that he was subject to a daily 15-minute watch by staff. When it came to Gonzalez’s  authenticity, George asked Capasso if Gonzalez ever contradicted himself when the two worked together, but Capasso said he couldn’t recall.

Capasso said that while Gonzalez was never aggressive or violent toward him, there was an incident at the juvenile hall’s basketball court when Gonzalez “had gotten aggressive with another youth,” but that he did not recall the specifics of the incident. Capasso also said he didn’t personally experience any manipulative behavior or deceit on Gonzalez’s part, but he did make a note in 2017 about manipulative behavior and concerns that Gonzalez was sneaking onto other websites while doing online classes.

Mel Flanagan, senior program manager for the California Justice Leaders AmeriCorps program, which offers coaching and guidance to youth who have been involved in the justice system, testified via Zoom. She said she had worked with Gonzalez while he was still under the jurisdiction of the Division of Juvenile Justice before Senate Bill 823 closed it and transferred its functions to the counties. Gonzalez, she said, was “one of the more engaged young people that we met with.” Flanagan added that Gonzalez voluntarily chose to work with the California Justice Leaders program.

Crystal Navarro, another member of California Justice Leaders, said she worked with Gonzalez through a program that guides young people who have been involved in the justice system through higher education. Navarro said she helped Gonzalez work on ways to prepare to reenter society, including possible locations, housing options and employment.

“He was on time, he was communicative and actively involved,” she said, adding that Gonzalez was polite and respectful as well. “He was focused and had things that he really wanted to work towards.”

Navarro said she and Gonzalez have remained in contact, and continue to discuss options for his potential reentry into society.

The trial will go on hiatus until Jan. 21, when the defense will continue calling witnesses.

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