Is there anything simpler than being a criminal in a progressive city? Whether it’s residents of San Francisco leaving their car trunks unlocked to avoid having their windows smashed, or the implementation of catch-and-release policies in urban areas, it appears that engaging in criminal activities has become increasingly effortless.
Even the presentation of substantial evidence in court seems to hold little weight, as certain judges are inclined to grant criminals a second chance without considering the gravity of their actions. This was precisely the case when Judge Kay Tsenin, despite objections from prosecutors, allowed Daniel Cauich to walk free in San Francisco on Friday. Cauich had been arrested for brutally stabbing 94-year-old Anh “Peng” Taylor multiple times in 2021, an incident that was captured on camera in broad daylight in the Lower Nob Hill neighborhood.
The San Francisco Standard reported that Taylor was left in a state of “pain, fear, and disbelief” after the attack. Although the evidence against Cauich was overwhelming, Judge Tsenin believed that he deserved another opportunity, a decision that was truly astonishing.
“I am giving you one last chance to stay out of state prison,” the judge stated during the hearing.
Cauich has commenced a five-year probation and supervision program under the San Francisco Superior Court. Tsenin generously consolidated the charges of attempted murder, elder abuse, assault, and burglary that he was facing.
Lisa DewBerry, the defense attorney for Cauich, sought to justify her client’s actions by citing his mental health struggles and past trauma.
“When we were able to get through to him to tell him what he had done, the man cried,” DewBerry told The Standard. “He couldn’t believe he did such a thing to her.”
Recovering in the hospital following a shocking stabbing attack in San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood, 94-year-old Anh "Peng" Taylor had a simple question for her niece keeping vigil with her: 'Why would something like this happen to me?' https://t.co/atq9OAPBck
— CBS News Bay Area (@KPIXtv) June 17, 2021