As real-world circumstances will do, a tragic incident is having an impact on a political race. The event was the carjacking and killing of the Rev. Dr. Autura Eason-Williams, revered pastor and district superintendent for the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference of The United Methodist Church. Dr. Eason was slain in her driveway Monday afternoon of last week. Two young suspects were apprehended.
One of the issues in the Shelby County District Attorney’s race between incumbent Amy Weirich and challenger Steve Mulroy is the matter of when a juvenile suspect between the ages of 14 and 17 should be transferred to Criminal Court for prosecution.
Mulroy has criticized Weirich for effecting too many such transfers. She has responded that juvenile transfers occur only for the most violent of crimes, especially when a subject’s background suggests incorrigibility.
Upon the arrest last week of a suspect, 15-year-old Miguel Andrade, Weirich moved to have him transferred to Criminal Court. A second suspect, 15-year-old, Brayan Carrillo, also 15, was arrested, and Weirich wishes him tried in Criminal Court as well, “because of the facts, the serious nature of this case and this offender’s criminal history.” Similar words had attended her request for the transfer of Andrade.
After the first arrest and the request for transfer of Andrade, Mulroy issued a statement critical of Weirich.
It said in part: “…When the crime is serious and the defendant has a long prior record, this merits transferring to adult court. But this defendant should never have been out on the street where he could’ve killed a beloved pastor, since he had committed prior crimes, including a prior carjacking. The fault for this lies with Amy Weirich, who for all her tough talk lets off too many serious criminals with her plea deals, including this plea deal.”
Weirich responded:
“The death of Rev. Dr. Autura Eason-Williams was a brutal crime and the accused murderer should face the most serious consequences and that is why I have requested his transfer to adult court. My opponent has opposed the transfer of youths who have committed violent crimes. He has staked out a dangerous platform and has been rewarded with over a quarter of a million dollars from radical out-of-state criminal defense attorneys. His latest statement is a shameful and disgusting attempt to use the death of a beloved community leader to try to advance his campaign, and the voters of Shelby County should be outraged by his platform, his campaign donations, and his desperate last minute attack on my office.”
