As the one-year anniversary of 16-year-old Preston Lord’s beating death approaches, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell on Wednesday announced a proposed legal change to address teen violence by creating a new category of crime called “swarming,” which is defined as the act of a group attacking an individual.

“We’ve called the crime that our proposal addresses swarming because much like it sounds, this is focused on people who team up and beat up on a single individual,” Mitchell said during a press conference in Queen Creek. “This is for the most part what we have been seeing in recent cases of teen violence — three, four, five or more people targeting one person. This mob mentality that is demonstrated in these cases is significantly more dangerous for the victim and that danger needs to be reflected in our laws.”

The bill would make the act of committing an assault with the aid of two or more accomplices chargeable as a class four felony rather than a class six felony or even a misdemeanor, Mitchell said, adding that class six felonies can be changed to misdemeanors even after trial.

“I describe class six felonies as being sort of a purgatory if you will between misdemeanors and felonies and that simply does not speak to the seriousness of these crimes, especially to our young people,” Mitchell said. “A class four felony will allow for stronger punishment than a class six felony or a misdemeanor to those who decide to take part in a gang or group beating.”

The proposed legislation is a response to attacks by a group of teens commonly known as the Gilbert Goons. Since December of last year, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office has charged at least 18 cases involving groups beating an individual.

“When the cases of the East Valley teens started making their way into my office in late December, early January, one of the biggest challenges that we faced was the limitations of the current law,” Mitchell said.

The most high-profile East Valley teen violence case is that of Combs High School student Lord. On Oct. 28, Lord was severely beaten while attending a house party in Queen Creek. He died of his injuries on Oct. 30. Seven young men have been arrested and charged with murder in Lord’s death.

Mitchell was joined at the press conference by Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley, Queen Creek Police Chief Randy Brice and state Rep. Matt Gress, R-LD4.

“As we approach the one-year anniversary of the awful events that took place on Oct. 28, it is so important to remember Preston and it is important that we continue to work together to enhance safety in our community,” Wheatley said.

Gress, along with state Rep. Julie Willoughby, R-LD13, are co-sponsoring the proposed legislation.

“Not only is it scarier and more frightening to be attacked by a group of three, four or more individuals, than if it were one person, the potential for serious injury is also elevated,” Gress said. “I applaud the efforts of County Attorney Mitchell in taking the first steps to address this much-needed change in our law.”

We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments, pro or con, on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org. Janet Perez can be reached at jperez@iniusa.org.