'Goons' attacker waives appearance at probation violation hearing

A man serving probation for his role in a "Gilbert Goons" attack was scheduled for a probation revocation hearing Friday but did not appear in court and asked to enter a denial of the new allegations against him.

Deleon Haynes, 19, was sentenced June 3 to three years of probation and 100 hours of community service for his role in the Aug. 18, 2023, beating of a 16-year-old at the Gilbert In-N-Out Burger.

Just under three weeks later, on June 21, he was arrested on suspicion of criminal trespassing and disorderly conduct after his 17-year-old ex-girlfriend reported to police he had threatened to shoot her. Police had previously responded to another incident, on June 12, in which Haynes and his ex-girlfriend got into an argument after he entered her home unlawfully, according to court records.

The Maricopa County Adult Probation Department filed a motion on June 24 to revoke Haynes’ probation due to the criminal trespassing, disorderly conduct and threat charges stemming from the two police encounters. Haynes also did not receive prior approval before changing his residence — a condition of his probation — and previous attempts to contact him by his probation officer had been unsuccessful, according to court documents.

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Haynes was in custody but did not appear in court Friday. Officials said he asked to waive his appearance and enter a denial of the allegations. A preliminary hearing on the charges is scheduled for July 1.

Haynes was the second person on probation for a Goons attack to be arrested.

Jacob Pennington also faces the potential revocation of a probation sentence he was given after pleading guilty in Maricopa County to being involved in a Goons attack.

Pennington, 20, was sentenced June 13 to three years’ probation for his involvement in an In-N-Out attack on Dec. 2, 2022. The terms of his probation specified he would not consume or possess alcohol, but he was arrested on suspicion of underage drinking the same day he was sentenced.

The Maricopa County Attorney's Office filed a motion to revoke his probation. Pennington is not currently in custody. The next hearing in his assault case was scheduled for Aug. 8, 2024.

Pennington is also serving probation in a Pinal County Goons attack case.

Reach the reporter at christina.avery@gannett.com.