Following the tragic death of 12-year-old Valley Central Middle School student Jacob Freytes, Assemblyman Brian Maher (R,C-Walden) is renewing his call for passage of the Danny Meyer Act, A.2013, legislation that would require life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for adults convicted of first- or second-degree murder of a child under the age of 13.

Maher was deeply moved after hearing Jacob’s mother speak publicly about the future her son will never have and her call for the person responsible for taking a child’s life to spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Her words carry particular weight in Maher’s district, where another family has lived with that reality for nearly three decades.

“Assemblyman Maher was deeply moved listening to Jacob’s mother speak about everything her son will never have the opportunity to experience and her belief that someone who takes the life of a child should spend the rest of their life behind bars,” said Meghan Hurlburt, chief of staff. “Right now, the focus for Jacob’s family should be mourning the loss of their child, supporting one another and honoring Jacob’s life. They should not have to think about legislation or the possibility that years from now they could be forced to relive this unimaginable loss through the parole process repeatedly. Unfortunately, that is a nightmare another family in our community already knows all too well.”

The Danny Meyer Act was inspired by the 1996 murder of 12-year-old Danny Meyer in the Village of Maybrook. Danny left his home on a sunny morning to head to a Little League baseball game, cutting through the woods on his way to the field. He never returned home. Danny was brutally murdered by 22-year-old Juan Peinado.

Nearly 30 years later, Danny’s family is still forced to confront his murder through the parole process. Peinado has repeatedly appeared before the Board of Parole, requiring Danny’s family and the surrounding community to once again fight to keep him behind bars. His most recent request for parole was denied in 2025, and he will be eligible for parole again in 2027.

For the Meyer family, the possibility that the person who murdered their 12-year-old child could one day be released from prison is not hypothetical. It is a nightmare they are forced to revisit every two years.

Maher introduced the Danny Meyer Act to ensure no other family has to endure that experience. A.2013 would require life imprisonment without parole for an adult convicted of first- or second-degree murder of a child under 13.

“As we move into the next legislative session, Assemblyman Maher is open to looking at ways we can strengthen this legislation, including expanding it to address additional charges that result in the death of a child,” continued Hurlburt. “He would also be open to working with both families to honor Danny and Jacob through the legislation. Those are conversations for the future, when Jacob’s family has had the time and space they deserve to grieve. But the message behind this bill remains simple: When an adult takes the life of a child, that family should never have to face the possibility of that person walking free.”

Maher is urging his colleagues in the state Legislature to support the Danny Meyer Act and work toward its passage in the next legislative session. In 2027, Juan Peinado will be eligible for parole for the fourth time in eight years, once again requiring the Meyer family to confront the possibility of their son’s murderer being released.