LA Protesters Accused of Attacking Feds, Defacing Courthouse

LOS ANGELES – Two individuals are facing federal charges following a violent confrontation with federal officers during an anti-immigration enforcement protest last month in downtown Los Angeles. The incident, which occurred near the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building and United States Courthouse, left one officer injured and resulted in property damage, according to a grand jury indictment unsealed today.

Erin Petra Escobar, 34, of the Palms neighborhood of Los Angeles, is charged with one felony count of assault on a federal officer or employee and one misdemeanor count of depredation of government property. Prosecutors allege Escobar was caught in the act of defacing federal property with a permanent marker before the situation escalated. The indictment details her actions as directly contributing to the unrest.

Nick Elias Gutierrez, 20, of Hawthorne, faces even more serious charges: two felony counts of assault on a federal officer or employee, one of which includes the specification of bodily injury. Court documents reveal Gutierrez allegedly physically interfered with officers attempting to detain Escobar, grabbing the shoulder straps of an officer’s bulletproof vest and shaking him violently. The struggle resulted in a dislocated finger for one of the responding officers.

The situation didn’t end with the initial physical altercation. While being transported to a holding cell, Escobar allegedly engaged in further misconduct, audibly filling her mouth with saliva and spitting at one of the officers. This brazen act is also included in the indictment, demonstrating a clear disregard for law enforcement. The July 17th protest centered around recent federal immigration enforcement operations.

Both defendants are currently free on $5,000 bond and are scheduled to appear for arraignment on August 15 in United States District Court in Los Angeles. If convicted, Escobar faces a statutory maximum sentence of eight years in federal prison for the assault charge and up to one year for the depredation charge. Gutierrez could face up to 20 years behind bars for the assault resulting in injury, and an additional eight years for the other assault count.

The United States Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Protective Service is leading the investigation into the incident, with the case being prosecuted by the General Crimes Section. An indictment is simply an accusation, and both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it unfolds.

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