A trans-identified male who had previously received a lenient sentence for sexually abusing a 10-year-old girl has now been sentenced to 15 years in prison for killing his friend. Hannah Tubbs, formerly known as James Tubbs, pleaded guilty to manslaughter after bludgeoning his friend to death with a rock. Tubbs had previously joked about gaming the system after being tried and housed in a juvenile detention center for females. This case highlights the controversy surrounding housing transgender inmates according to their self-declared gender identity. Reduxx reported
A transgender man, formerly known as Hannah Tubbs but legally named James Tubbs, has been given a 15-year prison sentence for brutally killing his friend, Michael Clark, by bludgeoning him with a rock. Tubbs had previously received a lenient two-year sentence in a youth treatment facility for girls after admitting to sexually abusing a 10-year-old girl. This case has drawn attention due to Tubbs joking about manipulating the system after being tried and housed in a juvenile detention center for females.
The incident involving Tubbs and Clark occurred in April 2019 in Kern County, California. The two men were friends and part of a group of homeless individuals camping together in the Lake Isabella area. Tubbs, now 27 years old, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and accepted a plea deal after initially being charged with first-degree murder, threatening a witness, robbery, and assault. In exchange for the lesser charge, Tubbs was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
The victim, Michael Clark, was a 22-year-old camper from College Place, Washington. During the trial, Clark’s father testified that Tubbs had briefly lived with his son. Clark’s body was discovered in the Kern River in Lake Isabella in August 2019, several months after his death.
Investigator Donald Krueger, who worked on the case, testified that Tubbs claimed to have dual personalities, one of which was a transgender persona. Tubbs also described having a darker, angrier side that would cause him to black out and commit actions he couldn’t remember. Tubbs stated that this darker side took control during the assault on Clark, resulting in his death.
Prior to the incident with Clark, Tubbs had gained notoriety for sexually assaulting a young girl in a restaurant bathroom in 2014. Tubbs was just shy of turning 18 at the time of the assault and was sentenced to two years in a juvenile treatment center for girls. This decision sparked controversy, as Tubbs would not have to register as a sex offender upon completing his sentence. L.A. County prosecutors chose to keep Tubbs’ case in juvenile court, despite calls for adult charges due to the severity of the crime.
After Tubbs was moved to the youth treatment center for girls, audio of a call between Tubbs and his father was leaked, revealing Tubbs’ excitement about the lenient sentence arranged for him. Tubbs expressed confidence that he would not have to register as a sex offender and would face minimal consequences for his actions.
It is worth noting that Tubbs began claiming transgender status only after being arrested for the sexual assault of a child. Despite being charged and referred to as James in court for Clark’s murder, Tubbs has been referred to as a “woman” or “transgender woman” in some news reports. In fact, a prosecuting attorney involved in the case was suspended for “misgendering and deadnaming” Tubbs.
The passage of the Transgender Respect, Agency, and Dignity Act in California requires inmates to be housed according to their self-declared gender identity. This means that Tubbs’ housing situation in prison has yet to be determined. Since the implementation of this law, several violent men claiming transgender identities have been transferred to or sentenced to serve their terms in women’s prisons.
Overall, Tubbs’ case highlights the complexities and controversies surrounding transgender individuals in the criminal justice system, particularly when it comes to housing and the treatment of violent offenders..