30 Los Angeles Juvenile Detention Officers Charged for Allegedly Allowing ‘Gladiator Fights’

Thirty Los Angeles County juvenile detention officers have been charged for their alleged role in organizing and encouraging violent “gladiator fights” between youth detainees at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Monday.

According to an indictment filed by the California Department of Justice, officers allegedly allowed and, in some cases, encouraged at least 69 fights among detainees between July and December of 2023. Officials say the fights involved over 140 victims between the ages of 12 and 18.

The investigation began after a video of one of the fights leaked in January 2024.

Twenty-two of the 30 charged officers were arraigned Monday at Los Angeles Superior Court, while the remaining defendants are scheduled for arraignment on April 18. The charges include child endangerment and abuse, conspiracy, and battery.

“Officers at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall have a duty to ensure the safety and well-being of those under their care,” said Attorney General Bonta in a statement. “Instead, the officers charged today did just the opposite—overseeing ‘gladiator fights’ when they should have intervened.”

An attorney representing a director of the facility, who was also indicted, claims his client is innocent. “My client didn’t set up any fights. He didn’t know about any fights, so I’m not sure how they got him into this as an accomplice,” attorney Tom Yu stated.

The L.A. County Probation Department, which runs Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, responded to the charges by stating that all involved officers have been placed on unpaid leave. The department says it initially sought law enforcement assistance after discovering misconduct, leading to the attorney general’s investigation.

“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,” the department said in a statement.

Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall has faced multiple issues and is under a state order to close. However, L.A. County supervisors have taken emergency action to keep it open due to a lack of alternative juvenile facilities.

The case remains under investigation as authorities work to determine the full extent of the alleged misconduct.