January 1, NY Judge Releases Gang Member with Attempted Murder Charge

I tell you folks, this story just makes my blood boil. How in the world can a judge let a gang member accused of attempted murder and gun charges walk free with just electronic monitoring?

An 18-year-old gang member, Kalifa Quattara, accused of attempted murder and gun charges, was released with electronic monitoring by Manhattan judge Valentina Morales, despite admitting that he could flee, according to court records.

Quattara, who is reportedly a member of the “Up the Hill” street gang, had already received a break on a gun case in Brooklyn.

He was caught with a loaded gun on April 19 and admitted to using the same weapon in a caught-on-video shootout with rival gang members nine days earlier.

Prosecutors asked that he be held without bail at Rikers Island, but Quattara’s lawyer argued for $5,000 bail, which Morales initially seemed to reject before changing her mind. Despite his previous brush with the law, Morales noted that Quattara had no prior convictions and was a high school student and basketball player.

The decision to release Quattara with an electronic monitoring device and curfew has been criticised by law enforcement sources, who said that electronic monitoring still carries risks and requires a level of maturity and willingness to comply, which younger offenders might not possess.

This decision by Morales is not the first time she has been embroiled in controversy.

Last year, she released a career criminal free without bail on a felony gun charge, only to have him skip out on the case until he was nabbed weeks later in Puerto Rico by federal agents.

In November 2021, Morales released a serial crook who was busted three times in just 36 hours – and was so confident he’d be released that he boasted that he would dodge bail.

The decision to release Quattara has sparked outrage and raised questions about the judgement of the judge. Law enforcement sources have expressed concern that this decision could put the public at risk.

However, Morales defended her decision, citing Quattara’s lack of prior convictions and his status as a high school student and basketball player.

This is just another example of how the justice system is failing to protect our communities. I don’t care if this guy is a high school student and basketball player; he admitted to using a loaded gun in a shootout with rival gang members. That’s enough to show that he’s a danger to society.

This judge, Valentina Morales, has a history of controversial decisions when it comes to releasing criminals. What is she thinking? Does she not realize that by letting these criminals back onto the streets, she is putting innocent people’s lives at risk?

We need judges who are tough on crime and who will make sure that criminals are held accountable for their actions. This soft-on-crime mentality is only going to make things worse.

Source: NY Post