Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman has announced new charges against individuals involved in the immigration raids protests in Los Angeles, notably including two people accused of assaulting law enforcement horses and a teenager charged with attempted murder.
In total, Hochman stated that over 40 individuals have been charged in connection to violence and vandalism related to these protests, with more charges anticipated as evidence continues to be reviewed by prosecutors.
Additionally, 23 individuals are facing federal charges linked to the protests in L.A., including serious allegations such as assaulting officers with cinder blocks and Molotov cocktails, as well as conspiracy to impede arrests.
Among those newly charged is a 17-year-old boy, who faces multiple serious charges including one felony count each of attempted murder, assaulting a peace officer, and vandalism, alongside two misdemeanor counts of rioting.
Separately, two individuals, Iran Castro, 29, from El Monte, and Dana Whitson, 66, from Oro Valley, Arizona, were charged concerning alleged assaults on horses belonging to the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department during different protest days in downtown Los Angeles.
Prosecutors have accused Castro of pulling on the bridle of one horse and grabbing the reins of another as mounted deputies attempted to disperse a crowd of protesters on June 14.
As a result, Castro faces two felony counts for assaulting a peace officer, two felony counts of animal cruelty, and one felony count of resisting arrest.
If convicted, she could face a sentence of up to 10 years and four months in prison.
Castro has pleaded not guilty to these charges.
On a previous day, June 13, Whitson is alleged to have pushed one of the sheriff’s horses several times, hit the animal’s muzzle, and pulled on its reins.
He has been charged with one felony count each of assaulting a peace officer, resisting arrest, and animal cruelty.
If found guilty, Whitson could face a maximum of six years and four months in prison, and he has also pleaded not guilty according to court documents.
In addition to injuries sustained by the Sheriff’s Department horses, reports confirm that at least five horses from the Los Angeles Police Department were injured during the protests.
The use of horses by law enforcement for crowd control has been under scrutiny due to the risks posed to protesters during such events.
A video captured on June 8 by independent journalist Tina-Desiree Berg shows a protester falling as a line of officers on horseback advanced into a crowd, with the mounted units continuing forward and trampling over the protester who was on the ground.
Other individuals recently charged by the District Attorney’s office include Patrick Monoz, 37, from Whittier, who is accused of injuring a police officer with a flagpole on June 11, after officers issued dispersal orders to protesters outside a hotel rumored to be housing federal immigration agents.
Monoz has pleaded not guilty to one felony count each of assaulting a peace officer and resisting arrest, as well as one misdemeanor count of rioting.
Another charged individual is Robert McGrath, 21, who faces one felony count of vandalism for allegedly spray-painting an expletive on the side of the federal Veterans Affairs building in downtown L.A.
McGrath has also pleaded not guilty.
In light of these developments, Hochman stated, “The large-scale protests may have ended for now, but our work has not.
I want to thank the team of investigators and prosecutors for their tireless efforts to ensure that those who committed criminal acts under the guise of protest are held accountable.”
The protests in downtown Los Angeles saw significant unrest for over a week, with law enforcement agencies arresting hundreds of individuals, culminating in at least 575 arrests by the Los Angeles police alone.
Initial charges against demonstrators were announced on June 11, reporting several offenses including the throwing of fireworks at police, driving a motorcycle into officers, and vandalizing the Hall of Justice.
Subsequent charges were declared on June 17, alleging acts such as setting a California Highway Patrol vehicle on fire and looting an Apple store.
image source from：latimes
