Los Angeles County is set to pay nearly $2.7 million to Jose Rivas Barillas, a teenager who was violently beaten in a juvenile hall incident that sparked a criminal investigation into “gladiator fights” within the facility. The incident, captured on CCTV in December 2023, showed Rivas Barillas, then 16, being attacked by six juveniles at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall while probation officers watched. The officers, identified as Taneha Brooks and Shawn Smyles, were seen laughing and shaking hands during the assault.
The video, which was first reported by The L.A. Times, led to a criminal investigation by the state attorney general’s office. This investigation resulted in charges against 30 probation officers, including Brooks and Smyles, for allowing and encouraging such fights among teens. California Attorney General Rob Bonta referred to these incidents as “gladiator fights” and noted that a review of CCTV footage revealed 69 similar fights in the first six months after the hall opened in July 2023.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is expected to approve the $2.67 million settlement to Rivas Barillas and his mother, Heidi Barillas Lemus. According to a public summary of the “corrective action plan,” the Probation Department failed to review the CCTV footage promptly and delayed transporting the teen to a hospital and notifying his family. Now, CCTV monitors are routinely staffed, and officials are conducting random audits of the recordings.
The claim filed with the county states that Brooks asked Rivas Barillas about his gang affiliation upon his arrival at the Downey juvenile hall. Brooks allegedly directed the attack, claiming she hoped he could fight. The incident has brought to light further allegations of forced fights at Los Padrinos, with reports of teens being rewarded with fast food for participating in brawls.
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