CALIFORNIA – Attorney General Rob Bonta announced, March 3, that a grand jury has indicted 30 officers at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey, on charges of child abuse, endangerment, conspiracy, and battery.
The indictment claims the officers let 69 fights happen, and even encouraged some of them, between kids at Los Padrinos from July 2023 to December 2023.
The charges came after the California Department of Justice investigated a leaked video of a “gladiator fight” in January 2024. Twenty-two of the 30 officers faced court March 3rd, and the rest will appear on April 18, 2025.
“The indictment – and the filing of criminal charges – is an important step toward holding these officers accountable and addressing shortfalls at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall,” said Bonta.
143 victims between the ages of 12 and 18
According to Bonta, the “gladiator fights” caused harm to the youth and, if true, showed the officers failed to do their job of protecting them.
They were indicted on charges that include child abuse, conspiracy, and battery affecting 143 kids aged 12 to 18.
The court document states that the crimes are a felony. If convicted of a felony, the officers will serve time in state prison.
Noted in the news release, a criminal indictment includes charges that must be proven in court. Every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Extra monitoring and stronger protections
Aside from the criminal case, Bonta says he’s also been working to fix problems in Los Angeles County juvenile halls and ensure the safety and well-being of the kids there.
In November 2024, Bonta announced extra monitoring and stronger protections as part of a new court order to fix unsafe conditions in Los Angeles County juvenile halls, including Los Padrinos.
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