Support Oscar's Law

On February 18, 2007, in San Jose, CA, a beautiful and precocious 6-year-old boy, Oscar Jimenez Jr., was brutally murdered by his mothers boyfriend, Samuel Corona.  After his death, Corona took little Oscars body to Arizona where he buried him in a make-shift grave and covered it with cement.

Unfortunately, the tragedy and the horror does not end there.  The man responsible for stomping this little boy, nicknamed 4x4 by his father because he liked to climb things, to death has a long criminal history for domestic violence against several women.  It was not a matter of if he would kill someone; it was only a matter of when and who. 

Even Coronas former mother-in-law said in a recent news article that she knew this would happen%u2026It was just a matter of time.  In fact, the only time Corona was not in trouble with the law was during the times he was incarcerated for other offenses.

In 2002, Corona attacked his estranged wife as she tried to leave him, despite her having a restraining order against him.  When three officers arrived on the scene, he turned his anger on them.  He shattered a window of a police cruiser, kicked one officer in the chest while trying to escape, and spit on two more officers.  He was convicted of felony aggravated assault and sentenced to two years in prison.

While out on bail for his attack on the officers, he kicked in the door of his estranged wife and beat her severely.  What is unconscionable is that for this offense, he was found guilty of misdemeanor assault and sentenced to probation.

How a man who had already been convicted of felony assault on the same woman and three police officers was only charged with a misdemeanor and given probation is unfathomable. 

In 2006, when his probation was revoked, he went on the run.  It was then that he met Oscars mother and became a part of their lives.

According to witness statements and court records, Corona renewed his pattern of abuse.  He maintained his power over these women by threatening their lives and the lives of their children.  He would not allow contact with their family members.  He would not allow them to shower unless he was in the bathroom with them.  He would threaten the lives and welfare of the children to maintain control over the women.

The justice system failed little Oscar and his family.  The justice system failed his first wife and her family.  The justice system has failed every woman this monster has ever been involved with. 

He never should have been given probation after being convicted of the exact same crime.  He should have never been charged with misdemeanor assault when the assault occurred while there was a valid restraining order on record.  In fact, his bail should have been immediately revoked and he should have been held without bond after showing the courts that nothing would stop his reign of terror on his ex-wife. 

He should never have been able to become a part of Oscar Jr.s life because he should have been in prison.

To many times we hear about cases similar to this happening.  It is time that we put a stop to this.  For this reason, we are asking that you pass Oscars Law.

Oscars Law would change the current laws in several ways that would help protect future victims of domestic violence and child abuse:

1)      Violation of a restraining order that results in the resumed violence against those protected by the order %u2013 whether through physical violence, verbal threats, written threats, and/or stalking %u2013 would become punishable by no less than ten (10) years behind bars.

2)      Any violation of a restraining order while bail is in effect would result in the immediate revocation of the offenders bail.

3)      Threatening a childs life or welfare %u2013 even if no physical violence occurs against the child -- during the course of a domestic dispute as a method of controlling the other party would result in an enhancement that would add an additional five (5) years to the offenders sentence if convicted.

4)      Subsequent charges of violence against a spouse or significant other would automatically be elevated to a felony.  This would include any future spouses or significant others as well as the original complainant.

5)      Those arrested for the killing of a child through the course of a domestic dispute would be charged with a capital crime which would be punishable by no less than life in prison without the possibility of parole.

If our justice system had worked the way it should have, Corona would have been in prison long before he met little Oscar.  As tragic as his death is, we should take this opportunity to help ensure that it does not happen again.  It is time that we start getting rid of the loop-holes that allow judges to give monsters like Corona a slap-on-the-wrist.

That is why we are all in support of passing Oscars Law.