{"id":150244,"date":"2021-02-19T17:27:53","date_gmt":"2021-02-19T22:27:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=150244"},"modified":"2021-02-19T17:59:09","modified_gmt":"2021-02-19T22:59:09","slug":"orange-county-d-a-says-if-l-a-countys-gascon-wont-seek-justice-for-slain-six-year-old-he-wants-the-case","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/orange-county-d-a-says-if-l-a-countys-gascon-wont-seek-justice-for-slain-six-year-old-he-wants-the-case\/","title":{"rendered":"Orange County D.A. Says If L.A. County\u2019s Gasc\u00f3n Won\u2019t \u2018Seek Justice\u2019 For Slain Six-Year-Old, He Wants The Case"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">36<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Forange-county-d-a-says-if-l-a-countys-gascon-wont-seek-justice-for-slain-six-year-old-he-wants-the-case%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=150244&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Orange-County-D.A.-Todd-Spitzer.jpg?w=1200&amp;h=800&amp;ixlib=react-9.0.3\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\" \/><\/div>\n<p>A California prosecutor says if Los Angeles County\u2019s new controversial district attorney won\u2019t pursue the maximum punishment for a crime committed nearly forty years ago, he wants the case.<\/p>\n<p>The Orange County Register <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ocregister.com\/2021\/02\/16\/orange-county-da-seeks-to-wrestle-away-cold-case-murder-from-da-george-gascon-in-la\/\">reports<\/a>, \u201cOrange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer has filed a brief seeking to take over the prosecution from Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gasc\u00f3n of a violent predator charged with the 1981 kidnapping and murder of a 6-year-old Anaheim Hills boy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>According to the Register, Kenneth Kasten Rasmuson \u201cremains in jail in connection with the slaying of Jeffrey Vargo, but Gasc\u00f3n\u2019s newly imposed directives have forced prosecutors in his office to move to dismiss special circumstances and enhancements.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Special circumstance allegations and sentencing enhancements act as extra punishments added on to the charge of an underlying offense.<\/p>\n<p>Rasmuson is accused of abducting Vargo on July 2, 1981, after the boy went for a bike ride near his home in Anaheim Hills, which is part of Orange County. His body was found the next day in neighboring Los Angeles County.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Orange County DA seeks to wrestle away cold-case murder from DA George Gascon in LA <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/gjaZFuWFIu\">https:\/\/t.co\/gjaZFuWFIu<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 O.C. Register (@ocregister) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ocregister\/status\/1361840049982218241?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 17, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>DNA evidence would eventually lead investigators to Rasmuson, who was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/local\/crime\/la-me-pomona-cold-case-20150330-story.html\">arrested<\/a> 33 years after the death.<\/p>\n<p>Rasmuson, 60, a convicted sexual predator, is also accused of murdering another 6-year-old boy in L.A. County in 1986.<\/p>\n<p>He was previously <a href=\"https:\/\/da.lacounty.gov\/media\/news\/convicted-sexual-predator-charged-second-murder-young-boy\">charged<\/a> in L.A. County under Gasc\u00f3n\u2019s predecessor with two capital murder offenses, along with the special circumstance allegations that he committed the crimes during the commission of a lewd or lascivious act upon a child, and the accusation he committed multiple murders. If convicted as charged, Rasmuson would face the death penalty or life in state prison without the possibility of parole. Gasc\u00f3n, however, has moved to dismiss those special circumstance allegations.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Idaho man to be extradited back to CA to face charges in 1981 murder of 6-yr-old boy <a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/KvrVqyPKtm\">http:\/\/t.co\/KvrVqyPKtm<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/GkFEqRNxJK\">pic.twitter.com\/GkFEqRNxJK<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ABC7\/status\/582038261570236416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 29, 2015<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>A Los Angeles judge recently <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/judge-issues-injunction-blocking-several-directives-from-l-a-countys-new-controversial-d-a\">issued<\/a> a preliminary injunction temporarily barring Gasc\u00f3n from directing prosecutors to drop sentencing enhancements in active cases.<\/p>\n<p>Still, Orange County D.A. Spitzer said he would attend a hearing in L.A. County Superior Court on Monday on behalf of Vargo\u2019s family \u201ctrying to get this case back to Orange County to do justice for the parents.\u201d Spitzer filed special circumstances murder charges against Rasmuson in Orange County earlier this week, establishing what he described as \u201can active case.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf George Gasc\u00f3n refuses to follow the law in prosecuting a pedophile murderer, I will,\u201d Spitzer said.<\/p>\n<p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spreaker.com\/user\/kfiam640\/bhs7a02172021\">recent interview<\/a> with KFI radio, Spitzer explained his strategy:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>So my point to the judge is, \u201cYour honor, if Mr. Gascon will not seek justice, in other words, he refuses to go forward because he\u2019s trying not to go for the special circumstances, kidnapping, sexual assault for purposes of murder, then I am more than willing to, and I have jurisdiction over the case.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Spitzer said that since Vargo was kidnapped from Orange County, his office has jurisdiction to file charges against Rasmuson in connection to that death.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI refuse to allow the LADA\u2019s \u2018one-size fits all approach\u2019 to prevent the family of a 6-year-old murdered child from achieving the justice that they deserve,\u201d Spitzer <a href=\"http:\/\/orangecountyda.org\/civica\/press\/display.asp?layout=15&amp;Entry=6111\">said<\/a> in a press release. \u201cHis crimes are the stuff of parent\u2019s nightmares and I will do everything in my power to ensure that this pedophile is held accountable for his crimes and is off the streets for the rest of his life. We will not take any chance of having this sexually violent predator come in contact with one more child.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Spitzer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spreaker.com\/user\/kfiam640\/bhs7a02172021\">maintains<\/a> that Rasmuson is \u201ca child molester\u201d who \u201ccan\u2019t be rehabilitated,\u201d noting \u201che\u2019s never been rehabilitated\u201d after previous convictions for sexually assaulting two other boys in 1981 and 1987.<\/p>\n<p>After Gasc\u00f3n took the oath of office in December, he issued a set of special directives implementing progressive reforms that have been met with immediate resistance. He did not campaign on ending all sentencing enhancements and special circumstance allegations, but <em>did<\/em> pledge not to prosecute some offenses to the fullest extent allowed by law. Along with other elements of his plan, the changes sparked a revolt from local law enforcement groups and several deputy district attorneys within Gasc\u00f3n\u2019s office. Victims\u2019 families and prosecutors <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxla.com\/news\/da-gascons-policy-changes-include-dismissing-special-charges-against-accused-cop-killer\">connected<\/a> with media outlets, and their <a href=\"https:\/\/abc7.com\/george-gascon-jon-hatami-attorney-lada-los-angeles-county-district\/8805356\/\">stories<\/a> helped create several new critics of both Gasc\u00f3n and his policies.<\/p>\n<p>Spitzer\u2019s spokesperson <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ocregister.com\/2021\/02\/16\/orange-county-da-seeks-to-wrestle-away-cold-case-murder-from-da-george-gascon-in-la\/\">said<\/a> he was motivated to file charges against Rasmuson after seeing a news report that featured Jeffrey Vargo\u2019s parents discussing Gasc\u00f3n\u2019s reforms. They had voiced concern that their son\u2019s alleged murderer could possibly be paroled if convicted.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">&#8216;I would be happy if he went to prison for the rest of his miserable life and rotted there,&#8217; says the mother of Jeffrey Vargo, a 6-year-old killed in 1981 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/vTuawdaK5F\">https:\/\/t.co\/vTuawdaK5F<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/deathpenalty?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#deathpenalty<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/justice?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#justice<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/LADA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#LADA<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/SoCal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#SoCal<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Scott Schwebke (@TheChalkOutline) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TheChalkOutline\/status\/1355308192356462592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 30, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cIf Rasmuson gets credit for the time already served in jail, he could be out in maybe 15 years,\u201d Connie Vargo, Jeffrey\u2019s mother, had <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ocregister.com\/2021\/02\/16\/orange-county-da-seeks-to-wrestle-away-cold-case-murder-from-da-george-gascon-in-la\/\">claimed<\/a>. \u201cI know he is never going to be executed, at least not in my lifetime. I would be happy if he went to prison for the rest of his miserable life and rotted there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/judge-issues-injunction-blocking-several-directives-from-l-a-countys-new-controversial-d-a\">Judge Issues Injunction Blocking Several Directives From L.A. County\u2019s New Controversial D.A.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/los-angeles-countys-new-progressive-d-a-changes-policy-after-public-outcry\">Los Angeles County\u2019s New Progressive D.A. Changes Policy After Public Outcry<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><em>The Daily Wire is one of America\u2019s fastest-growing conservative media companies and counter-cultural outlets for news, opinion, and entertainment. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/subscribe\"><em>member<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A California prosecutor says if Los Angeles County\u2019s new controversial district attorney won\u2019t pursue the maximum punishment for a crime committed nearly forty years ago, he wants the case. The &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2181566,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Orange-County-D.A.-Todd-Spitzer.jpg?w=1200&h=800&ixlib=react-9.0.3","fifu_image_alt":"Orange County D.A. Says If L.A. County\u2019s Gasc\u00f3n Won\u2019t \u2018Seek Justice\u2019 For Slain Six-Year-Old, He Wants The Case","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-150244","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Orange-County-D.A.-Todd-Spitzer.jpg?w=1200&h=800&ixlib=react-9.0.3","fifu_image_alt":"Orange County D.A. Says If L.A. County\u2019s Gasc\u00f3n Won\u2019t \u2018Seek Justice\u2019 For Slain Six-Year-Old, He Wants The Case","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/150244","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=150244"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/150244\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2181566"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=150244"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=150244"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=150244"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}