Madyson Middleton killer Adrian Gonzalez a ‘moderate’ risk of sexually reoffending, psychologist testifies

Adrian “AJ” Gonzalez scored “above average” on a sexual assault risk assessment and appeared to be “very isolated and alienated from the world,” but showed no evidence of pedophilia or sexual sadism, a clinical forensic psychologist testified Tuesday.

Ashley Mowrey, a clinical forensic psychologist at the San Francisco Forensic Institute, told the third day of testimony in Gonzalez’s probable cause hearing that she was tasked with conducting a “sex offense-specific risk assessment” for Gonzalez to determine how likely he is to repeat his offenses. 

The hearing in Santa Cruz County Superior Court will help determine whether Gonzalez, 24, can be released after he turns 25 later this year. He was convicted in 2021 for the kidnapping, rape and murder of 8-year-old Madyson “Maddy” Middleton, a crime he committed in 2015, when he was 15 and Gonzalez and Middleton were neighbors in Santa Cruz’s Tannery Arts Center.

Morey testified that she first met with Gonzalez in February 2023. She said she performed a clinical interview with Gonzalez that covered a broad range of topics, from psychosocial and family history to trauma and substance-use history. The interviews also included discussion about the subject’s sexual history, attitudes and current practices.

Mowrey said Gonzalez told her how he sexually assaulted and murdered Middleton and disposed of her body, but did not go into gruesome detail and did not express strong emotions. She also said that he acknowledged an interest in BDSM (bondage, discipline, sadism, masochism) pornography, but not anything nonconsensual or “deviant.” 

She also evaluated Gonzalez to determine if he is a pedophile, but said that there was no evidence to suggest that he is. “It has to be at least a period of six months of someone experiencing the recurrent, intense preoccupation with children,” said Mowrey, adding that Gonzalez did not show signs of necrophilia nor sexual sadism. 

Although Santa Cruz County Chief Deputy District Attorney Tara George argued that  necrophilia and sexual sadism were both elements of the crime, Mowrey said that Gonzalez was not specifically aroused by such conditions.

Across two different sex offense risk assessments, Gonzalez scored “above-average risk” on one and “moderate risk” on the other. In a personality assessment, Mowrey said he showed “elevated scores” on the schizophrenia scale, paranoia scale and psychopathic deviate scale, and added that the assessment depicted him as someone who is “very isolated and alienated from the world.” When asked if the consequences can be severe if a person with those characteristics acts out, she said yes. Neither attorney asked what exactly “severe consequences” could mean.

However, Mowrey said Gonzalez showed strength in “cognitive empathy,” which is the ability to understand and interpret other people’s emotions and perspectives. She said that can be a strength in treatment, because the subject can see how their actions may negatively affect others and choose not to engage in them.

In cross-examination, Mowrey told Santa Cruz County Chief Deputy Public Defender Athena Reis that a subject can progress through treatment only if they are engaging in an “authentic and detailed way,” which she said Gonzalez did. She also said that had he disclosed any thoughts of necrophilia, pedophilia and sexual sadism, his treatment would have been changed to address the issues. 

Melita Combs, Gonzalez’s juvenile corrections counselor in the Sonoma County Probation Department, continued her testimony from Friday. 

Gonzalez is being held at Sonoma County Juvenile Hall’s Secure Youth Treatment Facility. Combs said Gonzalez has cooperated and participated in all mandatory and optional programming while at the facility.

“In my experience over the past year, his ability to express himself and identify various emotions has improved,” she said, adding that his interactions with his peers have been “positive” and “friendly.”

Combs also said Gonzalez has been proactive in his treatments and will frequently communicate with her on goals and previous meetings. When asked if she thought Gonzalez was participating genuinely, she said she thought he was. However, she added that others did share concern in that regard, but did not say who or what their concerns were.

Gonzalez — who is now 24, but was 15 when he committed the crime — was tried as a juvenile because of Senate Bill 1391, which barred the prosecution of people under the age of 16 as adults. That bill also opened the door for his possible release this year as he approaches his 25th birthday.

The county district attorney’s office challenged Gonzalez’s release in May, prompting the probable cause hearing. As prosecutor, George must convince the judge that Gonzalez is not fit to be released this year. 

If George is convincing in her arguments, Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Denine Guy could rule that there is probable cause to push back Gonzalez’s release, at which point the case would go to a trial, where George would have to similarly convince a jury that Gonzalez’s release should be delayed. If the jury reaches the same conclusion, then Gonzalez would remain in custody for up to two more years.

However, if George is unsuccessful, Gonzalez would be released later this year.

The hearing will continue next Tuesday, July 30, at 10:30 a.m., and is expected to go into Wednesday, July 31, as well.

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