Dozens of California officers have been charged in connection with alleged "Gladiator Fights" at a juvenile detention center that pitted youths against each other.
The state's attorney general, Rob Bonta, said on Monday that the 30 officers involved in the case allowed, and in some cases encouraged, the gladiator-style fights. He added that a grand jury indictment charged the detention services officers with child endangerment and abuse, conspiracy, and battery.
Gladiator Fights Between Teenagers
Bonta added that 69 of these fights occurred at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall from July 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. He noted that the officers were indicted after the California Department of Justice opened an investigation after video footage showing the supposed gladiator fights surfaced in January 2024.
The footage showed several detention services officers standing by, with at least one seemingly encouraging the juveniles while they were taking turns beating another teen inside a room at the center. The room itself was also seen decorated with colored streamers and other Christmas decor, according to the New York Times.
In the video, one officer was seen smiling and pointing while she watched the fights, while another one shook hands with one of the teenagers shortly after he knocked down another. Bonta said that watching the footage made him see the officers as referees or audience members at a prizefight.
He said that they could not be called adults when they were charged with caring for and supervising young people. Bonta added that the suspects did not intervene or protect their charges.
More Than 140 Victims
The grand jury indictment against the officers also estimated that there have been more than 140 victims who were aged between 12 and 18 years old and who were involved in the gladiator fights. Bonta said that they have reason to believe that everything was planned and intended, CNN reported.
The California attorney general said the officers supposedly wanted the gladiator fights to happen early in the day and at a specific time and place. Of the 30 officers involved in the case, 22 were scheduled to be arraigned on Monday at the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
The indictment also noted that various factors helped enable the alleged fights to occur, such as the vulnerability of the victims and the officers' position of trust or confidence. Court documents argued that the fights resulted in physical harm to the teenagers involved as well as the potential dereliction of the officers' duty, as per USA Today.
