‘Criminal Justice Reform’ Advocate Denied Bail After Being Charged In Murder Case

A criminal justice reform advocate who pushed for a more lenient justice system in Pennsylvania has been charged with gunning down a mother of two.

Sergio Hyland, self-described “hood abolitionist” and former organizer for the left-leaning Working Families Party, was arrested on April 17 on murder and illegal gun possession charges, court records show. Hyland previously spent 20 years in prison in relation to two other killings and endorsed Democratic Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner for reelection days before his arrest.

“We are proud to endorse him and support his unwavering commitment to transformative criminal justice reform,” Hyland said in a Working Families Party statement eight days prior, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. “His initiatives to end mass incarceration, eliminate cash bail for nonviolent offenses, and hold law enforcement accountable for bad actions resonate deeply with our mission to advocate for policies that promote equity and justice for all Pennsylvanians.” (RELATED: Prosecutor Under Fire Over Tesla Vandal Case Decides It’s Time To Focus On ‘Racial Disparities’ In Sentencing)

Krasner previously said he was “honored” by the endorsement, but his office told the Philadelphia Inquirer that it “worked closely with the Philadelphia Police Department to charge [Hyland] in this matter and will be vigorously prosecuting him to the fullest extent of the law.” Krasner’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.

Hyland is reportedly accused of shooting a Philadelphia mother of two girls in the head in July 2024 for unknown reasons. He also served 20 years in prison in connection to two killings in 2002 and 2004.

Courts records show his other charges include tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, owning a firearm without a license and other firearm crimes. He was denied bail on April 18.

Hyland reportedly quit his job at the Working Families Party after the arrest. The law firm representing Hyland and the Pennsylvania Working Families Party did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

U can’t “save our children”, by putting more people in prison. Also, children don’t “go down the wrong path” – they’re victims of the system

— Sergio Hyland (@uptownserg) October 6, 2024

Hyland has been offering speaking engagements, consultations to guide people through the criminal justice process and “violence reduction/prevention” services, according to his personal website.

The front page boasts that “during his time in prison, he was mentored by former Black Panther and Black Liberation Army member, Russell Maroon Shoatz,” who was convicted of murdering a police sergeant. The local nonprofit Resolve Philly said in a February article that Hyland’s time with Shoatz convinced him to begin advocating for the abolition of prisons.

“We have to get back to community,” Hyland said in the article while discussing gun violence prevention.

“We have to show people that you don’t have to be afraid of each other,” he said. “I’m not your enemy.”

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