Tyler Freeman sentenced to 3 years in prison for ‘Gilbert Goons’ attacks.

The 18-year-old was visibly shaking in court as prosecutors detailed what he did during and after the “Gilbert Goons” brass knuckle attacks that sent the teenagers to hospital.

During Friday’s hearing, prosecutors showed videos of Tyler Freeman’s beating and played recorded phone calls from prison in which he joked about raping teenagers in juvenile facilities, planned revenge on others and cursed Preston Lord.

“Tell him I said (expletive) Preston Lord,” Freeman said in a phone interview this year, referring to the 16-year-old beaten to death in a gang attack on Oct. 28, 2023. “He is a (expletive).”

Freeman apologized to the court and said the person he was then is not the same person he is now. He added that watching the videos and phone calls was embarrassing.

“I want to be a better person,” Freeman said. “I want to be able to prove to victims that I am a changed person. And I’m truly sorry for what I did.”

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Bruce Cohen heard a hearing and sentenced Freeman to three years in prison followed by four years of intensive probation in connection with two robberies that occurred in late 2022.

“You didn’t take into account those you loved, those you hurt. You didn’t take into account your family and the pain that was so obvious that they were suffering,” Cohen told him. “You showed no consideration for all the suffering people in Gilbert.”

Inquest in December by The Arizona Republic first linked Lord’s murder to the Goons, a gang of teenagers who recorded their brutal attacks on teenagers in parks and garages, outside fast food restaurants and at house parties. They shared the footage in group chats and on social media.

The attacks, mostly in Gilbert, went unchecked by authorities for over a year.

Freeman was supported in court by his family, who solemnly shook their heads as prosecutors presented evidence.

His mother told Cohen that her son’s life took a turn for the worse during the attack, but added that he was a good man who now wanted to start over.

“What was played was terrible, but he took responsibility,” Dawn Freeman said, breaking down in tears. “I know his heart.”

Cohen asked Freeman to explain some comments he made during prison visits, including one about Lord.

Freeman said he became angry when his ex-girlfriend told him another person had insulted him. He said that this person was friends with the Lord, so he felt like reacting. Freeman admitted he shouldn’t have said it – at the time he thought it would make him feel better.

Freeman also explained the origins of the Goons, which authorities classified as a criminal street gang. Freeman described it as a group of friends.

He said he made some friends in middle school and wanted to impress them because they had drugs. They continued dating in high school, and he said they liked him better when he and the others got into a fight.

“I liked the attention I was getting,” Freeman said.

Everything changed for him when he found out what it was like to be beaten with brass knuckles – he said and heard that the victim of a brass knuckle attack Connor Jarnaganhe forgave him.

“I remember when I heard it, I just cried because if the roles were reversed, I wouldn’t forgive myself,” Freeman said. “I would try to take revenge.”

Gilbert police have not linked the teen’s beating to the group of attackers

Freeman was convicted in 2023 of two attacks that Gilbert police failed to connect to the Goons.

Police and prosecutors treated Freeman as an individual attacker in two brass knuckle cases, although reports from the time noted that groups of teenagers were involved in the attacks.

Police said at the time that Freeman and his friends committed “unprovoked attacks” on random strangers. The teenager also admitted to “repeated incidents of leaving home with the intention of attacking people for no reason.”

Freeman was detained for almost three months before being placed on probation and sentenced to five months in a behavioral health facility.

A report obtained by The Republic in June said Gilbert police investigating Freeman’s assault obtained evidence that the Thugs bragged about attacking people “over 30”. several months before Lord’s death, but dismissed them as baseless.

Prosecutors released some of that evidence — Snapchat messages — during Friday’s hearing. Among them was Freeman, who told his friends that they should go on a cop-killing spree and become an official gang.

Freeman convicted of thug attacks on In-N-Out Burger house party

Freeman’s lawyer said his client’s case is unusual because the new arrests coincide with his efforts to rehabilitate minors. Freeman was making progress in his recovery when he was arrested and charged as an adult in other battery cases, he said.

“He was being punished for something that preceded all the work he did and all the crimes he committed that landed him in juvenile court, which is not an ordinary progression,” Gregory Zamora said after the hearing.

Police arrested Freeman this year in connection with four 2022 beatings, but he was only charged in two. He pleaded guilty in August in both cases.

Beating at ‘Gilbert Goons’ house party, November 2022: 4 arrests

Nine people attacked a teenager outside a house party near Higley and Riggs roads. Brass knuckles were used. In January 2024, four people were arrested.

On November 22, 2022, the victim was beaten after he asked several people to leave a house party in Gilbert. The attack was filmed and showed nine people surrounding the teenager, taking turns punching and kicking him.

The assault was not reported until January 4, 2024. Police arrested Freeman, William Owen Hines (18), Jacob Meisner (17) and Kyler Renner (19). Hines did not enter any pleas; Meisner admitted his role and was given probation. Renner was not charged.

Hines and Meisner are among them seven charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping in killing the Lord. They all pleaded not guilty.

Freeman was also charged with an assault that occurred on December 2, 2022, in the parking lot of a Gilbert In-N-Out Burger.

This beating was also recorded. In one clip, Freeman taunts someone while getting into a fight, saying, “Stand over me (expletive).” He starts throwing multiple punches as the others jump into action. Another 26-second clip shows the victim being dragged, pushed and punched by multiple attackers in a crowd of teenagers.

Beating of the “Gilbert Goons” In-N-Out gang, December 2022: 3 arrests

Seven people are involved in the attack, which left many victims injured. Brass knuckles were used. In January 2024, three people were arrested.

Police responded to a “call for a fight” that night, but left after stating they found no evidence of a fight. In January, after receiving videos of the attack, they launched a new investigation.

Three people told police they were attacked during the gang attack, but only one was willing to press charges. He said Freeman beat him with brass knuckles.

Freeman, Hines and Jacob Pennington, 21, were arrested and charged with assault. Hines pleaded not guilty and Pennington pleaded guilty and entered a plea three-year trial period.

Cohen sentenced Freeman separately in each battery case.

During the house party attack, he ordered Freeman to serve three years for attempted aggravated assault and two-and-a-half years for the assault.

For the In-N-Out attack, Cohen sentenced Freeman to four years of intensive probation upon his release from prison.

The judge told Freeman that in one respect he was lucky.

“I think you’re lucky that you’re not one of the co-defendants in another case that I have before me that could have much more significant consequences,” Cohen said. “This is not for lack of effort, as your actions could have easily resulted in death. So is their behavior.”

Elena Santa Cruz is a criminal justice reporter at The Republic. Reach it at [email protected]. Follow her on X @ecsantacruz3.

Robert Anglen is an investigative reporter for The Republic. Reach it at [email protected]. Follow him on X @robertanglen.