Someone notify the AZ Department of Health Services! There's been an outbreak of a virulent disease in Maricopa County!

Of course, that disease is affluenza and the Gilbert Police Department (GPD) and the Maricopa County Attorney's Office (MCAO) seem to be anti-vaxxers when it comes to this disease.

First up - a definition of "affluenza".

From Merriam-Webster -

The defense of "I'm suffering from affluenza" was used by Ethan Couch in 2013 to get away with killing four people while he was driving drunk.

In 2016, Brock Turner got away with rape.

Those were a while ago, but rest assured, there are folks in positions of public trust who behave as if bad behavior by people who are wealthy and/or well connected is less bad and the consequences. of those acts should be similarly be less harsh.

From KNXV (Phoenix Channel 15), emphasis added by me -

Gilbert Goons classified as 'criminal street gang,' but no additional charges submitted

The Gilbert Goons fit the description of a "criminal street gang," police announced Thursday afternoon.

Gilbert police say they are being classified as a "hybrid gang" instead of a "traditional gang" because they lack formal leadership and other classifications.

Despite the announcement, police say at this point, no additional charges will be filed against any members related to gang affiliation.

The story contains videos of the press conferences held by GPD and MCAO in order to rationalize treating the Goons less harshly.

Today seems to be a cynical day for me - my guess is that the Goons (or more likely, their parents) are wealthy and/or well-connected

Of course,  Charles Ryan rated a term of probation for engaging in acts that would rate any member of civil society a term of incarceration, at least according to MCAO.

Of course2, both GPD and MCAO have a documented track record of having a [ahem] "flexible" definition of gangs.

During the BLM protests, some of the protesters were charged as being part of a gang (even though they weren't),  and GPD was involved in that, and MCAO proceeded with prosecuting the charges, even after they knew the charges were inflated to the point of being bogus...at least until they were caught doing so.

So, white and rich (at least, having rich parents) means not part of a gang.

And having skin that darker than a golfer's tan and not being rich...and having the audacity to criticize the status quo...means part of a gang.  

Got it.