Los Angeles County’s sheriff slammed the county’s district attorney (DA), saying his policies and failure to prosecute all criminals is contributing to the crime wave in the city. Sheriff Alex Villanueva made appearances at both a neighborhood group’s town hall and on Fox News on Dec. 22. During both appearances, Villanueva said the policies and directives DA George Gascón has implemented have led to an increase in crime. Soon after he took office Dec. 2020, Gascón issued directives for LA district attorneys not to prosecute misdemeanors such as trespassing, criminal threats, drug and paraphernalia possession, public intoxication, and resisting arrest. He also directed his office to treat repeat violent offenders as first-time offenders by not using “prior-strike enhancements”—including for rape, murder, kidnapping, and robbery. Under Gascón’s leadership, no minors will be tried as adults, regardless of the crime, and prosecutors are prohibited from seeking the death penalty except in extremely rare …