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Thirty officers from the Lospadrinos Boys Hall have faced child abuse charges to coordinate the “Gladiator’s Battle” among children at the center for six months, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Monday.
It allegedly occurred between July 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023, nearly 70 fights occurred in the Boys Hall, allowing arguments and sometimes even encouraging them. According to a Bonta announcement, 143 children were affected by the fight, and many were injured. The severity of their injuries has not been revealed.
“Officers of the Los Padrinos Boys Hall are obligated to ensure the safety and well-being of the people who care for them. Instead, the officers charged today did the opposite of overseeing the ‘Gladiators’ battle’ when they should have intervened,” Bonta said in a statement. “The indictment and filing criminal charges — is an important step to hold these officers accountable and dealing with shortages in the Los Padrino boys hall. Today’s accusations are a warning for all those who abuse their power, the California Department of Justice is watching.
The investigation began last January after one of the “Gladiator Battles” leaked. In such videos, shared on social media, minors are seen being attacked by other boys, as detainees watch. Some officers saw the attacker’s hands laugh and shake.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has declared a local emergency for Los Padrinos Boys Hall in Downey. Lolita Lopez is reporting an NBC4 News report on Tuesday, December 17th, 2024 at 4pm.
Of the 30 officers, 22 of them were arrested Monday. The remaining eight are scheduled to be arrested on April 18th. Their names have not been revealed.
Officers face charges that include child danger, child abuse, conspiracy and battery.
The problematic center was the subject of criticism and intervention by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, declaring a local emergency against the Juvenile Hall.
The declaration instructs staff and lawyers to pursue remedies to keep the facility open despite the state’s closure order. According to local emergency orders, the lack of personnel was the cause of the Hall’s problems.
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