L.A. officers accused of organizing 'gladiator fights' among juvenile detainees

Criminal charges of child endangerment and abuse, conspiracy, and violence have been brought against thirty detention services personnel at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall. The allegations come from claims that the officers oversaw and even planned around 69 fights during a six-month period in 2023.

After security camera footage of a few of the clashes was released during a court hearing and later acquired by the Los Angeles Times, a state inquiry was initiated. The startling six-minute video captures the juvenile captives eating breakfast in a communal space.

The indictment of 30 detention services personnel at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey on accusations of violence, conspiracy to conduct a felony, and child endangerment and abuse was announced by California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Tuesday.

After video evidence of one of the alleged "gladiator fights" surfaced in January 2024, the California Department of Justice opened an inquiry.

The accused guards were shown on video footage taken between July and December 2023 to have "allowed and, in some instances, encouraged" 69 fights between children at the detention facility. 143 children between the ages of 12 and 18 participated in the "gladiator fights."

California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated at a Zoom press conference: "The officers look more like referees or audience members at a prize fight, not adults charged with the care and supervision of young people."

He continued: "After a thorough investigation, DOJ discovered that the video was not a one-off, isolated incident. Between July 1 and Dec. 31 of 2023, detention officers allowed — and, in some instances, even encouraged — 69 gladiator fights to occur between 143 youth in their care."

"We're talking about vulnerable youth, 143 teenagers between the ages of 12 and 18, young people who are living under the guardianship of the criminal justice system," he added

The 71-count indictment, which was made public on Monday, claims that one of the cops advised the youths involved in the fights not to seek medical help, while two of the officers instructed their coworkers not to break up the fights or report the occurrences.

LA County has been sued by the relatives of at least one of the youths injured in the altercations. According to his lawsuit, the kid, who is only known as K.T., claims that he was beaten repeatedly and that "these multiple beatings caused K.T. to be left unconscious with permanent and debilitating injuries."

After the video was made public, eight of the cops were suspended, and last week, another fourteen were suspended.

Los Padrinos was declared "unsuitable" for housing minors by the California Board of State and Community Corrections, which subsequently ordered its closure.

However, due in part to the fact that two of the other juvenile detention facilities had previously shuttered following accusations of violence, the troubled LA County probation department rejected the decision.

A court has also been petitioned to close Los Padrinos by the public defender's office for LA County. That request has not yet been fulfilled.