We all know the justice system in blue states is broken beyond repair. But this story out of California shows just how bad things are, and how desperately we need reform in the justice system — reform that'll keep violent criminals behind bars and protect innocent citizens.
In Martinez, California, Marcos Iriarte-Valdez was on pretrial release for burglaries he committed back in April when he was arrested on August 4 for violating home detention monitoring. On August 5, a Iriarte-Valdez was ordered released by a judge on his own recognizance with a referral back to home detention monitoring.
Less than 24 hours later, Iriarte-Valdez randomly stabbed 68-year-old Todd Stewart outside Stewart's home on Francis Court. Iriarte-Valdez then fled in an SUV. The murder was captured on a neighbor's surveillance cameras.
Marcos Iriarte-Valdez, the suspect accused of kiIIing 68-year-old Todd Stewart while he worked in his yard in California, was released from prison just 24 hours earlier.
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) August 9, 2026
Not 24 years. Not 24 months. 24 HOURS.
JAIL. THE. JUDGES.
We should not have to live like this!! pic.twitter.com/uPEUrYHja0
The killing of 68-year-old Todd Stewart shocked and angered neighbors, some of whom said the homicide could have been prevented if the suspect had remained in custody.
Investigators arrested 36-year-old Marcos Iriarte-Valdez at his home Friday evening, according to Martinez police. There is clear surveillance video, police said, of the crime and surveillance footage of the getaway car, which they say matches a vehicle registered to Iriarte-Valdez.
Detectives also said the video captured who they believe is Iriarte-Valdez wearing a tactical vest before Stewart was stabbed Thursday around 5 p.m.
The homicide happened in front of Stewart's home on Francis Court, where neighbor Galina Pasternak said Stewart had been building a shed when the suspect attacked him.
"I am angry. I'm sad," Pasternak said. "I absolutely believe this murder could have been prevented."
Police said Iriarte-Valdez was released twice before the killing.
This is unacceptable. But we have to wonder how many of Stewart's neighbors voted for the Democrats who promote these pro-criminal, pro-crime policies.
The point of the cameras is: We will murder you on camera
— IronJawedAngel (@AngelJawed) August 10, 2026
and they will let us walk free and we will do it again and again
and you will never stop us.
It's hard to argue with this.
Judges should be held accountable. If they were… I guarantee they wouldn’t let all these animals loose on us.
— Nunya (@NunyaBidness74) August 9, 2026
Accountability from the judges and politicians is necessary.
"Nichelle Holmes, of Solano County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Contra Costa County Superior Court. Holmes has served as a Deputy District Attorney at the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office since 2012. She was an Attorney at the Law Offices of… pic.twitter.com/89jGjDWBTA
— DA (@woogie324) August 9, 2026
This is the judge who released Iriarte-Valdez.
Here is the case info and the docket entry from Contra Costa Superior court apparently showing Marcos Eduardo Iriarte-Valdez was released on his own recognizance on August 5, 2026 by Nichelle N. Holmes pic.twitter.com/it6bMQhWdc
— vbmoneyspender (@vbmoneyspender) August 9, 2026
We must start putting criminals behind bars.
Yookayification of the United States is well underway. If you're not from here and kill someone, you get a finger wag, but if you're an American with constitutional rights to free speech and self defense and use those against foreign rapist schizos, you get put thru the wringer https://t.co/lPURt7ADN0
— Parzival (@Netscape_Knight) August 10, 2026
There is a two-tier justice system in America, and we must put an end to it.
Todd Stewart would be alive if we did. Studies have shown that a small percentage of the population commits most of the crimes and that if we put them behind bars and kept them there, violent crime rates would plummet. Not jailing criminals is a choice.
Editor’s Note: The American people overwhelmingly support President Trump’s law and order agenda.
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