After a petition with hundreds of thousands of signatures in favor of recalling Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón was submitted, he is facing outrage now that a convicted murderer who was freed from jail last November after his case was sent back to juvenile court was charged Thursday with a new series of crimes.
Andrew Cachu, charged under the name Andres Benjamin Cachu is accused of leading Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies on a pursuit. He pleaded not guilty to one felony count each of fleeing a pursuing peace officer’s motor vehicle and driving against traffic, possession of a firearm by a felon, possession for sale of methamphetamine and possession for sale of cocaine, along with one misdemeanor count each of driving under the influence of a drug, possession of a controlled substance with a firearm and possession of cannabis for sale.
Sheriff’s deputies reportedly saw him slumped over the steering wheel of a vehicle and knocked on his window in an effort to awaken him Tuesday, according to the statement from the District Attorney’s Office.
Deputies allegedly observed a firearm in his waistband and said he appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance when he was awakened, with Cachu allegedly trying to flee from deputies until he drove into a curb and ultimately surrendered, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
The criminal complaint includes allegations that Cachu was previously convicted in October 2016 of murder and robbery.
Cachu, now 25, was released from jail last Nov. 10 after a state appeals court panel ordered that case involving the March 31, 2015, shooting death of Louis Amela be sent back for a hearing to determine if his case should be handled in juvenile court or adult court as a result of a change in state law because he was 17 at the time of the crime.
