30 youth correctional officers charged with child abuse and endangerment for allowing detainee ‘gladiator fights’

On March 3, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the unsealing of a grand jury indictment against 30 detention services officers at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey, California, on charges of child endangerment and abuse, conspiracy, and battery. 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.  Downey is about 13 miles south of downtown Los Angeles.

The indictment stems from an investigation launched by the California Department of Justice after video footage of one of the so-called “gladiator fights” leaked in January 2024. Twenty-two of the 30 officers were arraigned on Monday at Los Angeles Superior Court. The remaining officers will be arraigned on April 18, 2025.

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“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 Attorney General 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. Let today’s charges be a warning for all those who abuse their power: the California Department of Justice is watching, and we will hold you accountable.”

The officers were indicted on charges, including alleged child abuse/endangerment; conspiracy to commit a crime; and battery impacting 143 victims between the ages of 12 and 18. 

The indictment also alleges aggravating factors, including the vulnerability of the victims and the officer’s position of trust or confidence, which helped enable them to commit the offense. The indictment identifies 69 incidents over a six-month period where probation officers facilitated and permitted youths in their custody to fight each other. These so-called “gladiator fights” resulted in physical harm to youth involved and, if the charges are proven, were a dereliction of the officers’ duty to protect those in their care.

For more on the story, see the video below.

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(Source: State of California, Department of Justice)

Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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