Juvenile Hall 'Gladiator Fights' Lead to Charges for 30 Los Angeles County Detention Officers

California’s attorney general likened the accused officers to “referees” of what prosecutors are calling “gladiator fights.”

March 4, 2025

Multiple Los Angeles County detention services officers are now facing charges in connection with what prosecutors describe as “gladiator fights” held at a juvenile facility.

Monday, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the unsealing of a grand jury indictment naming 30 officers from the Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey. The officers are accused of allowing and “in some instances” encouraging dozens of fights starting in July 2023 and through December of that year. In a statement, Bonta pointed to the key expectations of someone working in this capacity, adding that these particular individuals “did just the opposite” by not intervening on an estimated 69 fights.

“The indictment – and the filing of criminal charges – is an important step toward holding these officers accountable and addressing shortfalls at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall,” Bonta said. “Let today’s charges be a warning for all those who abuse their power: the California Department of Justice is watching, and we will hold you accountable.”

Counts listed in the indictment include child abuse, conspiracy, and battery. All told, prosecutors say there were 143 total victims between the ages of 12 and 18, some of whom are said to have endured “physical harm” as a result of the fights allegedly overseen by the charged officers.

The California Department of Justice launched an initial investigation after footage of one of the fights in question went public in January of last year. By November, Bonta had announced additional monitoring efforts aimed at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall and one other facility, citing “continued deterioration of conditions” and a larger failure to keep children safe.

“The footage, which was later circulated widely by the media and on social media, shows one youth in the detention center being attacked by a series of other youth who came at him one by one as detention officers stand by watching,” Bonta said of the footage, as seen in the KCRA 3 video up top. He also likened allegedly involved officers to “referees or audience members” due to their failure to intervene.

“Some officers are even seen laughing and shaking hands with the young people involved,” Bonta told reporters.