(LOS ANGELES) – Today, City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto announced that her office has filed 10 criminal cases involving 14 defendants for a variety of California Penal Code (“PC”) and Vehicle Code (“VC”) violations stemming from the immigration protests in downtown Los Angeles. Each of the misdemeanor charges filed carries penalties of up to one year in county jail and up to a $1,000 fine.
“The right to peacefully protest and to free speech is protected under the First Amendment; however, protests must not cross the line into criminal conduct. This Office will continue to prosecute individuals who violate our laws, especially when they threaten public safety, assault our police officers or damage property,” said Hydee Feldstein Soto, Los Angeles City Attorney.
The following 10 cases, involving 14 defendants, have been filed:
Los Angeles Superior Court (“LASC”) #25CJCM03190: Guillermo Sandoval, Defendant
Charges: PC243(b), PC69, PC148a1, PC409, VC2800(a)LASC #25CJCM03218: Elmore Cage, Defendant
Charges: PC245A1, PD240/241C, PC408- LASC #25CJCM03248-01: Elino Vaca, Defendant
Charges: PC69, PC245A1, PC240/241C
LASC #25CJCM03248-02: Eleno Amanza, Defendant
Charges: PC245(C), PC69, PC245A1, PC240/241C
- LASC #25CJCM03250: Daniel Gonzalez, Defendant
Charges: PC148A1 (two counts), PC409
- LASC #25CJCM03271: Presley Meinert, Defendant
Charges: PC417(A)(1)
- LASC #25CJCM03272-01: Gilbert Mayfield, Defendant
Charges: PC484(a)-490.2(a), PC148A1(two counts), PC 602(K)
LASC #25CJCM03272-02: Deijay Garret, Defendant
Charges: PC484(a)-490.2(a), PC602(K)
LASC #25CJCM03272-03: Eric Darnell Jackson Griffin, Defendant
Charges: PC484(a)-490.2(a), PC602(K)
LASC #25CJCM03272-04: Karen Sancheztala, Defendant
Charges: PC602(K)
- LASC #25CJCM03273: Jose Melendez, Defendant
Charges: VC23110(A)
- LASC #25CJCM03269: David Daniel, Defendant
Charges: PC417.4, PC 148(a)
- LASC #25CJCM03279: Mildred Jessie Pierre, Defendant
Charges: PC484(a)-490.2(a), PC148(A)(1);PC602(k)
- LASC #25CJCM03280: Patricia Lewis, Defendant
Charges: PC484(a)-490.2(a), PC602(K)
The City Attorney is continuing to evaluate new cases for prosecution as they are referred, recognizing the right of people to protest so long as they do so peacefully.
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Hydee Feldstein Soto is the 43rd Los Angeles City Attorney, elected in November 2022 and sworn into office in December 2022. Her team of nearly 1,000 legal professionals, including 500+ attorneys, carries out legal work for the City of Los Angeles at her direction and under her supervision. She is the first female City Attorney in L.A. history.