Parents of Arizona’s ‘Gilbert Goon’ Deny Guilt in Alleged Beating Scandal

The parents of a teenager accused of organizing an assault appeared before a state judge on Tuesday, arguing their lack of responsibility. Theodore and Jamie Lander, two of four parents and among nine total defendants, are caught in a lawsuit targeting the Gilbert Goons, a hybrid street gang in southeast Phoenix valley. This group has allegedly conducted several violent acts against high school students over the past two years, including a separate case tied to the murder of 16-year-old Preston Lord outside a Halloween party in Queen Creek.

The lawsuit was filed by JoBeth Palmer on behalf of her son, Kaleb Williams, who was attacked in Mesa last May. After the incident, Mason Lander, one of the accused, sent Williams a threatening message, referencing the assault. According to Palmer, the Landers failed in their duty to supervise their son and should be held accountable for his actions.

Defense attorney Scott McClure contended that neither Theodore nor Jamie Lander could be held liable for Mason’s conduct. “Did the Landers have the ability to control?” McClure questioned Judge Melissa Julian. He argued that parental liability requires both knowledge and the capacity to manage the child’s actions to prevent harm.

McClure pointed out that the plaintiff’s case relied on a post-incident text message, which, in his view, did not substantiate the Landers’ ability to exercise control. Plaintiff’s attorney, Richard Lyons, argued that parents have an obligation to monitor their children’s communications. He cited his own experiences managing his children’s social media activities to strengthen his argument. However, McClure countered this by asserting that the standard of review does not demand parents to scrutinize every text their child sends.

Lyons pressed that parents must supervise their children more effectively, but Judge Julian remained cautious, stating, “This is a conclusory finding. You have to give me facts.” Lyons indicated he could provide additional messages to support his claim that the Landers should have been aware of Mason’s behavior.

McClure also argued for the dismissal of Jamie Lander as an individual defendant, noting she is not Mason’s biological mother and lacks legal authority over him. Lyons agreed to an extent, citing that as long as Jamie is married to Theodore, she shares any debts incurred from the lawsuit. He compared this to naming spouses in medical malpractice suits.

McClure urged the judge to dismiss the case against both Jamie and Theodore Lander, arguing the plaintiff should not be allowed to amend the complaint anymore as all potential facts were accessible from the beginning. Judge Julian’s decision will determine if the case proceeds to discovery.