On Monday, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the unsealing of a grand jury indictment against 30 officers who were employed at the facility. These officers face serious charges, including child endangerment, abuse, conspiracy, and battery, as detailed in a press release issued by his office, marking a significant development in the ongoing investigation.

An investigation into the troubling practices at Los Padrinos was initiated in January 2024, following the leak of a video showing an alleged “gladiator battle” that raised alarms about the treatment of minors within the facility.

The shocking video from December 2023, which was disclosed by the Los Angeles Times in April 2024, captured a disturbing scene where eight correctional officers stood idly by as a group of juveniles viciously attacked a 17-year-old in a “day room.” This incident resulted in the teen suffering severe injuries, including a broken nose and “traumatic brain injury,” according to a civil claim referenced by the Times.

The California Department of Justice ultimately concluded that the minors in the detention center had been “allowed, and in some cases, encouraged” to participate in 69 different fights during the period from Los Padrinos’ reopening on July 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. This revelation highlights a systemic failure in ensuring the safety of the youth under their care.

The 30 officers now face a total of 71 charges related to child abuse/endangerment, conspiracy to commit a crime, and battery that affects 143 different victims aged between 12 and 18 years old, as reported by the LA Times.

Probation officers were allegedly seen “facilitating and permitting” fights among the youth in their custody, signifying a severe breach of their responsibility to protect those entrusted to their care.

“Some officers were even seen laughing and shaking hands with the minors involved,” Attorney General Banta remarked during a press conference, as reported by CW affiliate KTLA.

“The intent was to orchestrate the fights,” he asserted, emphasizing that “the officers appeared more like referees or spectators at a prize fight, rather than responsible adults tasked with the care and supervision of vulnerable youth.”

The indictment also cites aggravating factors, as detailed in the press release, such as the vulnerability of the victims and the officers’ positions of trust, which facilitated the perpetration of these crimes.

According to the Times, two officers, Taneha Brooks and Shawn Smyles, allegedly instructed their colleagues not to intervene or report the fights, as outlined in the indictment. Additionally, Smyth purportedly advised the minors involved to avoid seeking medical attention to conceal the ongoing violence.

In the specific case of the 17-year-old depicted in the video, Brooks and Smyles reportedly told rookie officers “not to say anything, write down anything, and just watch when youth fights occurred,” as per the indictment.

“Officers at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall have a solemn duty to ensure the safety and well-being of those in their care. Instead, the officers currently charged did the opposite — overseeing ‘gladiator fights’ when they should have intervened,” Banta stated in the press release, emphasizing the grave responsibility of these officers.

As per the press release, 22 of the indicted officers were arraigned on Monday at Los Angeles Superior Court on the aforementioned charges, while the remaining eight are scheduled to be arraigned on April 18.

In a statement obtained by Fox affiliate KTTV, the LA County Probation Department expressed its full support for the indictments, stating that they “sought the assistance of law enforcement authorities when misconduct was discovered,” which triggered the ongoing investigation.

“The current staff named in today’s indictments have all been placed on leave without pay,” the LACPD added. “Accountability is a cornerstone of our mission, and we have zero tolerance for misconduct of any peace officers, especially those dealing with youth in our system.”

“The indictment — and the filing of criminal charges — is a crucial step towards holding these officers accountable and addressing the significant shortfalls at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall,” Banta stated. “Let today’s charges serve as a warning to all who abuse their power: the California Department of Justice is vigilant, and we will hold you accountable for your actions.”

Beyond holding these 30 officers accountable for their alleged misconduct, Banta’s office also emphasized its commitment to addressing the systemic issues plaguing Los Angeles County juvenile halls. Their goal is to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of the youths entrusted to their care amidst growing concerns over facility conditions.

In a statement, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn reiterated that these youths are “not only in our custody, they are in our care,” emphasizing the importance of accountability and responsible care for these vulnerable individuals.

“It is unacceptable that probation officers, who were entrusted with this vital responsibility, would misuse their authority to harm these children,” she stated. “I fully support the Chief Probation Officer in terminating any officers found guilty of these heinous acts.”

“This is further evidence that the culture within our probation department needs to change dramatically,” she added, while the LACPD emphasized, “We believe this marks an important step towards rebuilding trust and reinforcing our commitment to the meaningful changes we are proposing in our juvenile facilities.”

“Our vision for these youths prioritizes rehabilitation, support, and positive outcomes for justice-involved adolescents, while also upholding the highest standards of professionalism and integrity for our staff,” the department added. “We remain dedicated to fostering a safe, restorative environment aligned with best practices.”

Since its reopening in 2023, Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall has been under scrutiny as it took over the responsibilities of housing detainees from the now-closed Central Juvenile Hall and Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall. This transition left Los Padrinos as the sole facility for housing minors in the county, thus heightening concerns over its operational standards and overall safety.

According to KTTV, since its reopening, Los Padrinos has been grappling with numerous challenges, including staffing shortages and ongoing allegations of escape attempts and violence among detainees—issues that were significant factors in the closures of Central and Nidorf facilities.

Furthermore, the facility has faced repeated orders for closure, with a deadline set for December 2024 due to failing inspections and being deemed “unsuitable” for housing youths, as reported by the Times. However, these closure orders have been delayed twice, indicating systemic issues that require immediate attention. Concurrently, the LA County Board of Supervisors has declared a local emergency concerning the facility’s conditions.

The second stay of closure, reported on January 24 by the Times, was prompted by a judge’s concern regarding the lack of viable alternatives for the approximately 230 youths currently housed within the facility. The situation remains under official review, highlighting the urgent need for a comprehensive solution.

On Monday, Los Angeles County Public Defender Ricardo Garcia issued a statement declaring, “The probation system and its underlying culture are broken. Accountability for those who have failed to protect our youth is long overdue — there is no justice in a system that abuses the very youth it is entrusted to care for.”