LOS ANGELES—Thirty Los Angeles County probation officers were charged with multiple offenses including child abuse and endangerment following an investigation that detected cases of “youth-on-youth violence” at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey, officials announced March 3.
As part of the indictment, prosecutors allege the officers staged “gladiator fights” among the youth detainees at the facility. According to state Attorney General Rob Bonta, 69 fights were allowed to occur between young people housed at the facility between July and December in 2023.
