A Tale of Brutality in Los Angeles: The Rivas Barillas Case
Los Angeles County will disburse $2.7 million in compensation to a teenage victim involved in a supposed "gladiator fight."
In a shocking turn of events, Los Angeles County was slapped with a hefty $2.7 million settlement for the gruesome beating of teenager, Jose Rivas Barillas, at the notorious Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall. This beating, caught on CCTV in December 2023, saw Rivas Barillas being mercilessly pounded by six juveniles while probation officers stood idly by, even encouraging the violence.
The disturbing video, exposed by The Times, sparked a thorough investigation by the state attorney general's office. This investigation ultimately resulted in charges against 30 probation officers. California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta, denouncing the events as "gladiator-style fights," uncovered 69 such brutal incidents during the chaotic first six months post the hall's opening in July 2023.
Longtime probation officials, Taneha Brooks and Shawn Smyles, were among the officers indicted for their involvement in these inhumane brawls. Their callousness extended to laughing and shaking hands, seemingly enjoying the spectacle.
Attorney Jamal Tooson, representing Rivas Barillas, commented on the video by stating, "The entire world got to witness the brutality that's taking place with our children at the hands of the Los Angeles County Probation Department." Rivas Barillas sustained a broken nose and traumatic brain injury as a result of this brutal assault.
In a tragic twist, Rivas Barillas was met with hostility immediately upon arrival at the Downey juvenile hall. According to a claim filed with the county, probation officer Taneha Brooks demanded to know his gang affiliation. Assuming he was Latino and affiliated with the "Canoga" gang, Brooks taunted and instigated the attack on Rivas Barillas by the other juveniles, all of whom were Black.
Following the violent incident, reports of juveniles being forced to fight have persistently surfaced from Los Padrinos. One teen revealed to The Times in March that officers rewarded him with fast-food bounties for attacking misbehaving kids. Staffers were also alleged to have organized fights when someone arrived who was believed to be gang-affiliated with the resident youths.
Another teenager, identified as John (Lohjk) Doe, detailed in a lawsuit filed in February that upon his arrival at Los Padrinos in 2024, he was escorted by an officer to the day room. This officer instructed a youth in the day room to attack Doe, watching on as the attack ensued. On another occasion, the same officer threatened to pepper-spray Doe if he didn't engage in a fight for 20 seconds. The fighters were rewarded with additional television time and more time out of their cells, the suit alleged.
After the teen reported these coordinated brawls to a female officer, he was abruptly transferred to solitary confinement, the suit claimed.
Despite requests for comment, a spokesperson for the Probation Department failed to respond. However, CCTV monitors are now being staffed routinely, as outlined in the "corrective action plan" submitted by the department before the settlement. The plan also details plans for random audits of recordings.
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- Judge orders more than 100 youths moved out of troubled L.A. County juvenile hall
- A.G. Bonta considers stripping county control of L.A.'s chaotic juvenile halls
- L.A. County approves $4-billion sex abuse settlement, largest in U.S. history.
- The authorities are looking into a disturbing pattern of inhumane brawls that took place at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in California, as revealed by Los Angeles County's $2.7 million settlement for the brutal beating of Jose Rivas Barillas in December 2023.
- The California Attorney General's office is investigating a total of 69 incidents of brutality at Los Padrinos, which occurred during the troubled facility's chaotic first six months of operation, starting in July 2023.
- In a concerning development, reports suggest that staff at Los Padrinos have allegedly organized fights and rewarded juveniles for attacking others, as depicted in a lawsuit filed by John Doe in February 2024.
- The general news outlet, The Times, has been instrumental in exposing numerous accounts of violence, racial discrimination, and corruption at Los Angeles County's juvenile halls, calling attention to the need for reform in both the law enforcement and education sectors.
