New Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon’s decision to backtrack on criminal enhancements will come into play in the hate crime slaying of a praying coronavirus patient.
Jesse Martinez, 37, is accused of beating 82-year-old David Hernandez-Garcia to death on Dec. 17 with an oxygen tank -- because he didn’t like his Catholic prayers.They shared a room at Antelope Valley Hospital.
Martinez faces charges of murder, elder abuse resulting in death and a hate crime, Gascon’s office announced Thursday. He faces a maximum sentence of 28 years to life in prison.
The district attorney's announcement did not mention that the victim's prayers spurred the attack, but the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said last week that, "the suspect.