Teen charged in 'Goons' beatings gets 3 years' probation, juvenile program

The first teen arrested in connection with "Gilbert Goons" attacks following the fatal Oct. 28 group attack on Preston Lord was sentenced to three years of supervised probation on Monday.

Christopher Fantastic, 19, was arrested in January after Gilbert police reactivated an investigation into an Aug. 18 attack involving an assault at the town's In-N-Out Burger. A week later, he was arrested in connection with a second attack , which took place on May 29, 2023, at a Mesa park.

"I'm sorry to the victims," Fantastic said in court. "I know the situation got out of hand, but I appreciate the opportunity for probation so I can change for the better."

Parents for each of the teenage victims told the court the attacks, which were filmed and the videos played in court, left their sons traumatized and completely upended their lives. One of the victims, Richard Kuehner's son, moved out of the country for safety. The other victim, JoBeth Palmer's son, doesn't go out alone anymore, she said.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Kerstin Lemaire gave Fantastic three years' probation for each case, but the sentence will run concurrently.

Lemaire also ordered Fantastic to complete 100 hours of community service for each case and that he participate in the Juvenile Transfer Offender Program, which she said aims to help address any underlying behavioral issues. While acknowledging the seriousness of the offenses, Lemaire said she wanted to give Fantastic the tools to move forward.

"I don't understand what was happening in Gilbert at the time or is still happening," Lemaire said. "I cannot wrap my head around what was going on."

Fantastic and his mother declined to comment following the hearing.

Outside the courthouse, Kuehner and Palmer said the consequence Fantastic received did not fit his crime and that justice was not served.

"It's a slap on the wrist," Kuehner said. "We're just enabling them."

7 have admitted guilt or accepted pleas in 'Gilbert Goons' attacks

More than two dozen arrests have been made in connection with Goons beatings since Lord, 16, was killed in Queen Creek. Fantastic is one of seven people who have admitted guilt or accepted plea deals.

Those who have been sentenced have not been given any prison time, though two people who have been sentenced in connection with Goons attacks have since been rearrested, and authorities have petitioned to revoke their probation.

A December investigation by The Arizona Republic tied the fatal beating of Lord to the Goons, a gang of teenagers whose attacks on other teens went unchecked for more than a year. The investigations into some beatings were set aside; others were not on the police's radar.

Authorities have since classified the group as a hybrid criminal street gang. But Gilbert police Chief Michael Soelberg said there was not enough evidence to bring additional gang-related charges.

Fantastic was sentenced for his role in a May 29, 2023, aggravated assault on Palmer's 16-year-old son at a Mesa neighborhood park near Val Vista Drive and Pueblo Avenue.

Police responded to the area that night for reports of a fight involving 30 to 40 kids and young adults. But police said when officers arrived, no one mentioned a fight.

The attack was filmed. In the video, a boy is hit repeatedly by a teen standing over him, who the prosecutor during Monday's hearing identified as Fantastic. Then, another boy steps into the frame and stomps on the victim.

A report was not filed with Mesa until January. Within two weeks, police arrested Fantastic and Jacob Meisner, 17. Meisner is one of seven people charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping in Lord's death.

On Friday, Meisner was given probation for his role in the attack and one other beating. But he will remain in juvenile detention until January when he turns 18 and is transferred to the adult judicial system.

The second case Fantastic was sentenced in connection with was the targeted beating of Kuehner's son in August, which took place after Kuehner's son told school officials he was being bullied. He was first threatened at his house, and days later, a group of teens caught him at the In-N-Out.

The attack was filmed. Kuehner's son was chased, punched and kicked in the fast-food restaurant's parking lot, and his shoes were stolen. Fantastic was identified by the prosecutor Monday as the person in the video wearing a black shirt and white pants.

Kuehner's son had to go to the hospital, and Kuehner racked up $14,000 in medical bills. His son then moved overseas to live with his mother because he no longer felt safe following the beating.

Gilbert police initially shelved the case . They didn't reopen it until after being contacted by The Republic in December.

Fantastic was one of six people police arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault and aggravated robbery in connection with the beating. Prosecutors declined to charge two juveniles who were arrested. Aris Arredondo, 18, was charged with both offenses, but prosecutors later dropped the aggravated robbery charge. Two others were charged and have admitted guilt.

A 17-year-old was charged with aggravated assault and admitted to that charge in juvenile court in April, according to court records. The teen was placed on one year of supervised probation and was also ordered to complete 10 hours of community service and write a letter to Kuehner's son.

The other person who pleaded guilty to aggravated assault was Deleon Haynes, 19. In June, he was sentenced to three years of supervised probation and 100 hours of community service. But court officials have since petitioned to revoke his probation after he was arrested by Gilbert police June 21 on suspicion of criminal trespassing, disorderly conduct and using electronic communications to threaten and harass.

Arredondo's case is still moving through the courts. Kuehner said he hopes Arredondo's punishment isn't just probation, even though he sees that outcome as unlikely.

"What I'd like is for him to serve time," Kuehner said. "But he's not. He's going to get the same thing these guys got."

Elena Santa Cruz is a justice reporter for The Republic. Reach her at elena.santacruz@gannett.com . Follow her on X @ecsantacruz3 .

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Teen charged in 'Goons' beatings gets 3 years' probation, juvenile program