NC Republicans Demand Firing Of Judge Who Freed Ukrainian Refugee’s Attacker
The Republican members of North Carolina’s congressional delegation are pushing for the removal of a state judge who discharged a man who is currently being accused of fatally stabbing a Ukrainian refugee on a Charlotte train.
Formal proceedings to remove Magistrate Judge Teresa Stokes were urged by all 10 House GOP members from the Tar Heel State, who signed a letter. They cited her decision earlier this year to release Decarlos Brown “exclusively on the basis of his ‘written promise’ to appear for a future court date.”
Brown has been accused of the stabbing of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska on August 22, 2022. Zarutska fled Ukraine in 2022 following Russia’s invasion.
Republicans contended that Stokes disregarded Brown’s extensive record when she released him without bond.
They argued that the release “was made despite Brown’s extensive criminal history, which included at least 14 prior arrests for serious offenses such as possession of a firearm by a felon, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and physical assault of his sister.”
Brown, who was purportedly diagnosed with schizophrenia, was charged with a misdemeanor in January after calling 911 and requesting that the responding officers investigate “man-made” materials inside his body that were influencing him, according to KATV.
According to the outlet, he was apprehended and charged with a misdemeanor after calling 911 again in response to the police’s refusal.
But the homeless man’s case is now the most recent illustration of the justice system in large cities being too lenient in its approach to crime, including on mass transit, as cited by Republicans.
It occurs in the context of broader partisan disagreements regarding the effectiveness of President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy the National Guard to major cities to address violent crime.
“Ms. Zarutska’s murder was not only a profound personal tragedy but also a direct result of a failure of judicial responsibility. By releasing a repeat violent offender on nothing more than his written promise to appear, Magistrate Stokes displayed a willful failure to perform the duties of her office and engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice,” the lawmakers, led by Rep. Tim Moore, R-N.C., wrote.
“Her decision has undermined public confidence in the judicial system and exposed the community to wholly preventable harm.”
In August 2022, Zarutska evacuated Ukraine following Russia’s invasion of the sovereign nation. On her way home from work, Zarutska sat in front of Brown on a train, and the assault appeared to be unprovoked. This is according to local reports.
“[W]e urge you to commence formal removal proceedings against Magistrate Teresa Stokes. We further request that the Court conduct a thorough review of her prior bond determinations to assess the full extent of misconduct,” the letter said.
“North Carolinians deserve to know that those entrusted with judicial authority exercise it with diligence, responsibility, and regard for the safety of the community,” the letter added.
The Justice Department and FBI announced on Tuesday that the individual who is accused of mercilessly stabbing Zarutska to death on a train in North Carolina last month has been charged with a federal crime.
Decarlos Brown Jr, 34, is currently being charged with one federal count of committing an act that resulted in the murder of a person on a mass transportation system.
This is in addition to the first-degree murder charge in state court that he is currently facing for the alleged murder of Zarutska in the assault that was captured on camera.
“Iryna Zarutska was a young woman living the American dream — her horrific murder is a direct result of failed soft-on-crime policies that put criminals before innocent people,” US Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Tuesday.
“I have directed my attorneys to federally prosecute DeCarlos Brown Jr., a repeat violent offender with a history of violent crime, for murder. We will seek the maximum penalty for this unforgivable crime, and he will never again see the light of day as a free man.”
FBI Director Kash Patel ripped the savage stabbing as “a disgraceful act that should never happen in America.”
“The FBI jumped to assist in this investigation immediately to ensure justice is served, and the perpetrator is never released from jail to kill again,” he added in a statement.
