Thirty LA County probation officers now face felony charges for organizing and cheering “gladiator fights” between minors as young as 12 years old in juvenile detention, part of a pervasive culture of abuse that allowed at least 69 orchestrated violent encounters while officers stood by laughing.
Quick Takes
- 30 Los Angeles County probation officers have been indicted on 69 counts of child abuse for allegedly organizing and facilitating fights between detained juveniles ages 12-18.
- Security footage revealed officers not only failing to intervene during violent attacks but actively encouraging the “gladiator fights,” with one officer seen shaking hands with an assailant.
- The investigation began after leaked video showed a 17-year-old being savagely beaten while officers watched and laughed, with the victim suffering severe injuries.
- Officers allegedly created specific times and spaces for these fights, acting more like referees than caretakers in a detention facility already deemed “unsuitable” by state regulators.
- Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall has continued operating despite being ordered closed by the California Bureau of State and Community Corrections amid chronic understaffing and unsafe conditions.
Liberal-Run Juvenile Justice System Implodes in “Fight Club” Scandal
In a shocking case of institutional failure under progressive governance, thirty Los Angeles County probation officers face criminal indictment for allegedly organizing and encouraging brutal fights between detained juveniles. The charges include 69 counts of child abuse, conspiracy to commit a crime, and misdemeanor battery. According to California Attorney General Rob Bonta, these weren’t random incidents but systematically organized “gladiator fights” where officers created specific times and spaces for violent confrontations between youths aged 12 to 18.
The investigation by the California Department of Justice began in January after security footage emerged showing probation officers standing by as a 17-year-old was violently attacked by multiple juveniles at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey. The footage revealed the disturbing reality that instead of protecting vulnerable youth in their care, officers were allegedly creating an environment that encouraged violence. Two officers in particular, Taneha Brooks and Shawn Smyles, were singled out in reports, with Smyles allegedly seen shaking hands with an assailant during an attack.
Mounting Evidence of Systemic Abuse
The scope of the investigation reveals a culture of negligence and cruelty that flourished under the county’s leftist leadership. Between July and December 2023 alone, authorities documented at least 69 organized fights involving as many as 140 detained youths. Rather than fulfilling their duty as caretakers and protectors, the indicted officers allegedly acted as fight promoters and spectators. The teenagers were essentially forced into combat while adults sworn to protect them cheered on the violence.
The victim of the attack that sparked the investigation has filed a notice of claim, a precursor to a lawsuit, after suffering severe injuries. According to his account, officers not only sanctioned the violence but actively organized it, with a supervisor accused of specifically instigating the attack. In response to the initial incident, the Probation Department suspended 14 officers, but the subsequent investigation revealed a much broader pattern of misconduct involving more than twice that number.
Failed Facility Continues Operating Despite Closure Order
Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall has become an emblem of progressive mismanagement in Los Angeles County’s criminal justice system. The facility was deemed “unsuitable” to house youth and ordered closed by the California Bureau of State and Community Corrections (BSCC), yet it continues to operate with the support of the Democrat-controlled L.A. County Board of Supervisors. This defiance of state regulators has allowed dangerous conditions to persist in a system already plagued by severe understaffing and chaotic management.
County Supervisor Janice Hahn’s all-caps statement acknowledges what conservatives have long argued: the system is fundamentally broken. The Los Angeles County Public Defender’s office is now seeking to remove its clients from Los Padrinos citing safety concerns, a move that further highlights the failures of the county’s juvenile justice approach. Twenty-two of the indicted officers have already been arraigned, with the remaining eight scheduled to face charges soon. President Trump has repeatedly called for law and order in our justice system, including reforms that should prevent such abuses of power.
