Paul Gordo is a big kid made bigger because of all the medication he takes. There’s Concerta to help him concentrate, valium to help him sleep and Abilify, an anti-psychotic, to help mellow him out. That last one in particular, says his father, Steven Gordo, caused Paul’s weight to balloon by about 100 pounds in the past two years.
The 18-year-old Marina resident has a mop of unruly brown curls and wide, guileless hazel eyes. He can read pretty well, although he doesn’t always comprehend what he’s reading. His favorite TV show is Thomas the Tank Engine, and he likes to help his parents cook, although he needs help wiping his face after meals. He behaves pretty well under tightly controlled circumstances. With a diagnosis of autism, clear expectations and controlled situations are two things that help him navigate the world.
That’s how I came to meet Paul Gordo. Earlier this year, he was placed in circumstances that were anything but controlled and now he’s now facing felony assault charges and possible incarceration because of it.
Gordo, a special-needs student in the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District, was on what’s called “home and hospital instruction,” meaning he was supposed to have daily one-on-one educational sessions with a teacher in a home or hospital setting because he was having trouble functioning in a classroom. It had been months since his last session – Steven Gordo says the district stopped sending a teacher just after he and his wife formally complained to the state that Paul wasn’t receiving sufficient or appropriate services. But in July, an instructor called to arrange a session. (MPUSD declined to comment on this story, saying it would violate student confidentiality.)
According to Steven Gordo, that instructor hadn’t received the full scope of Paul’s educational or behavioral plan before their first meeting.
About an hour into that two-hour July 14 session at the Marina Public Library, Paul got up to go to the bathroom. When he returned, he was agitated, talking loudly and the teacher told him he needed to be quiet. Shushing, for no reason and every reason, agitates Paul further. Paul started screaming and running toward the door, shoulder checking a man at the front counter, pushing another man and then knocking down a woman walking with the assistance of a cane in the parking lot.
“It was probably one of the worst things I’ve ever witnessed, that my son could do this,” Steven Gordo says. “Once she went down, he stopped. He was immediately stunned by what happened.”
The police came and took a report, although they didn’t arrest Paul at the time.
The woman he knocked down hit her head, exacerbating a previous medical condition. On Sept. 4, the DA sent a letter (addressed to Paul, whose reading comprehension is that of about a sixth grader) telling him he was being charged with felony assault and battery for knocking the woman over. He was then ordered not to leave the state until a deal was struck or a trial was finished. And that’s unfortunate as well, because Steven Gordo and his wife, Susan, had finally found a long-sought after residential placement for Paul in Kansas.
In the past year, Steven Gordo says they’ve called the police on their son five or six times, at the recommendation of the county Behavioral Health Department and Natividad Medical Center, because it would help Paul get residential placement.
Is there a way to balance society’s – and the victim’s – need for justice with the reality that in Paul Gordo, the District Attorney is prosecuting a disabled teen who doesn’t understand everything that’s happening to him?
Deputy District Attorney Jeannine Pacioni says the test for whether someone can be charged with a crime includes whether they understand right from wrong. Paul Gordo, she says, meets that standard.
Steven Gordo says his son understands he’s in trouble, and has become obsessed with punishment, including asking if he might be burned at the stake or otherwise executed for doing wrong.
Paul Gordo’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10am Dec. 18, unless a plea deal happens before then.
(5) comments
The boy should not be charged with a felony. First off, a felony assault must be intentional and this clearly was not. Secondly, he is a special needs person and he should have been properly supervised. We have an Autistic son and we know first hand that supervision is constantly required, especially in public. We are behind this boy 100% and support him. They also should consider modifying his medication, it seems to be giving him severe ups and downs. Gaining 100 pounds is not healthy either.
I think ths is ridiculous ths poor boy is not all there so many people are money hungry sue happy people. I do not think he should get anytime for ths either
Charging a person with autism who has such a limited understanding of the legal process that he believes he may be burned at the stake or executed for knocking someone to the ground demonstrates he is not of an intellectual level of understanding to be charged with this felony. And the DA is wasting taxpayer money by charging a person who has a well-documented disability that impacts his daily behavior. If this public school student was under the supervision of a public school employee at the library, then the school system is responsible for what transpired at the library. The school system has an extremely detailed document with all the details about a special needs student, including behavioral issues. The school bears a great deal of responsibility for what happened here. Why is the school system not being held responsible? This young man sbould NOT be charged with a felony for his neurological disability that led to his impulsively running out of the library.
The fact this young man would be facing any criminal charges at all disturbs me greatly. Not to be confused with intervention that could occur and should to help him. To "punish" him based on law that is not set up for people with his disability is a disservice to him and the rest of the community. It does nothing but insteal fear in an already fright full situation. It will only add agitation and anger to a volutal young man. I can see nothing positive coming out of any charges. The article states he indeed knew right from wrong & that's what was used as some sort of "test" to question rather or not this young man understood the difference. In his case I would think because of the state he was in at that exact time gave presidence over any concrete consciense thought he was having. Charges would simply amount to mistreatment. He would get nothing out of even a lower felony as there is most likely jail time connected. Instead increase his assistance have him if possiable write to apologize to this women. Maybe some volunteer work back to the community. All to teach him without making him suffer for an unintentional act. Make something good come from this. Make a positive statement instead of a negative one. Surly there are other options for this young man. My heart does go out to the women who was injured. I only wish her the best.
Dear Mary Duan,
As a mother of a child with autism in Europe, I want to thank you for telling the true story of this boy, to try help him and his family. All of them should be having a terrific time with this problem, and we hope the Judge be able to realise than there isn't any punishment than can make change the child's behavior, because nothing can change his disability. And besides doesn't deserve a punishment, he needs loads of help from all the comunity. Apologise to the old lady, she should feel scared, but hopefully she understand it was just an accident.
With kind regards,
Welcome to the discussion.
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