Thirty Los Angeles County detention services officers are facing criminal charges for allegedly facilitating “gladiator fights” between youths at a County juvenile hall.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Thursday unsealing of a grand jury indictment accusing the officers, all from Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, of child endangerment and abuse, conspiracy and battery impacting 143 victims between the ages of 12 and 18.
“The indictment alleges that the officers allowed and, in some instances, encouraged 69 fights to occur between youths at Los Padrinos during the period from July 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023,” stated Bonta’s release.
According to the Attorney General, the California Department of Justice launched an investigation after video footage of the fights leaked in January 2024.
The footage shows eight probation officers standing idly by while a group of teens attack a 17-year-old inside a “day room” at the juvenile hall.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the teen suffered a broken nose and head trauma.
“Some officers are even seen laughing, and shaking hands with the young people involved,” Bonta said. “Watching the video, the officers look more like referees or audience members at a prize fight not adults charged with the care and supervision of young people. The officers don’t step in or intervene and don’t protect their charges.”
The eight probation officers were soon placed on administrative leave, followed by another four in April 2024.
Bonta said 22 of the 30 officers who now face these criminal charges were arraigned on Monday. The rest will be arraigned on Apr. 18.
There have been calls on the state level to close Los Padrinos altogether because of “unsuitable” conditions and failed inspections. The Probation Department has refused this order, though.
“Officers at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall have a duty to ensure the safety and well-being of those under their care. Instead, the officers charged today did just the opposite – overseeing ‘gladiator fights’ when they should have intervened,” said Bonta. “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.”
In an entirely separate civil judgment in November 2024, Bonta announced additional monitoring and protections to address illegal and unsafe conditions in L.A. County Juvenile halls, including Los Padrinos.
The L.A. County Probation Department issued the following statement regarding Bonta’s announcement:
“The Los Angeles County Probation Department fully supports and applauds the Attorney General and his office for today’s indictments. Our department sought the assistance of law enforcement authorities when misconduct was discovered, which eventually led to the AG’s office investigation. Since then, we have fully collaborated with our partners. At the same time, we have been conducting our own internal inquiries. The current staff named in today’s indictments have all been placed on leave without pay. Accountability is a cornerstone of our mission, and we have zero tolerance for misconduct of any peace officers, especially those dealing with young people in our system.
“While these incidents are deeply troubling, we believe this marks an important step toward rebuilding trust and reinforcing our commitment to the meaningful changes we are proposing in our juvenile facilities. Our vision for them is one that prioritizes rehabilitation, support, and positive outcomes for justice-involved youth, as well as upholding the highest standards of professionalism and integrity for our staff. We remain dedicated to fostering an environment that is safe, restorative, and aligned with best practices.”
