Two Arizona Republican Senators are calling on Attorney General Kris Mayes and Governor Katie Hobbs to protect the citizens of Arizona by immediately rescinding the release of a “seriously mentally-ill patient” who was housed at the Arizona State Hospital after being found incompetent to stand trial in the murder of his own mother and seven-year-old niece.
Last week, Arizona State Hospital released Rodney Aviles after they held him at their facility for over twenty years.
This follows Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell writing to Mayes back in February of this year to express her grave worries about community safety and her conviction that Aviles continues to pose a threat to his family and the larger community.
The report discussed a 2021 court filing objecting to Aviles’ release, citing a doctor’s statements that Aviles had no insight into the fact of his mental illness. Although Aviles says he does not require medication, the court documents state that they anticipate that he will need inpatient care for the remainder of his life.
State Senators Anthony Kern (R-Glendale) and T.J. Shope (R-Florance) say that Mayes and Hobbs’ inaction on this public safety risk shows that their priorities are completely tone-deaf and out of touch with the needs of Arizonans.
According to Kern, Hobbs’ is more concerned with issuing numerous unconstitutional executive orders than protecting Arizonans from the imminent danger by the release of Aviles.
“We have a Governor issuing numerous unconstitutional executive orders left and right, allowing taxpayer-funded sex-change surgeries, stripping county attorneys of their prosecutorial powers, protecting a Death Row inmate from execution, acting as a travel agency in transporting illegal immigrants to their preferred destinations, and even focusing on hairstyles of state employees. Now, we have an individual who is clearly an imminent danger to society and being immersed back into the community because of the incompetence of the Hobbs Administration,” Kern said.
Kern continued saying that the Hobbs’ administration is completely tone-deaf and her negligence is putting Arizonans at risk.
“Unfortunately, she (Hobbs) and Mayes are nowhere to be found when public safety is at risk. When Mayes should be defending our laws and prosecuting the most vile criminals, she’s instead advocating for lawlessness. The citizens of this great state and the victims who have been through unthinkable suffering deserve immediate action from these so-called ‘elected officials.’ Their priorities are completely tone-deaf and out of touch with the needs of our state. Any fallout or further victimization from the release of Aviles will strictly be the result of inaction from Hobbs and Mayes,” Kern said.
Shope agreed saying that Aviles is unfit to be on Arizona streets.
“If this man is unfit for trial after murdering his family, he’s unfit to be on the streets with the general public and must stay under proper care and supervision,” Shope said.
According to Shope, as chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, he will work alongside his colleagues to bring truly independent oversight of the Arizona State Hospital. Shope noted that “This is clearly necessary to keep patients and citizens safe from the winds of politics.”
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Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star, The Arizona Sun Times, and The Star News Network. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “AG Mayes and Gov Hobbs” by AG Kris Mayes.
