LOS ANGELES – A downtown Los Angeles immigration protest turned ugly last month, allegedly culminating in assaults on federal officers and the defacement of government property. A federal grand jury today handed down a four-count indictment against two individuals, charging them with crimes stemming from the July 17 incident near the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building and United States Courthouse.
Erin Petra Escobar, 34, of the Palms neighborhood, stands accused of one felony count of assault on a federal officer or employee and one misdemeanor count of depredation of government property. Prosecutors allege Escobar used a permanent marker to vandalize the federal building before officers attempted to detain her. The indictment details that she then reportedly spat on an officer while being transported to a holding cell, filling her throat with saliva before the act.
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 aggravating factor of resulting in bodily injury. According to court documents, Gutierrez allegedly grabbed an officer’s bulletproof vest and shook him violently while officers were attempting to detain Escobar. The struggle reportedly led to one officer suffering a dislocated left ring finger.
The incident unfolded as a small group gathered to protest recent federal immigration enforcement operations. The Roybal building’s entrances are clearly marked as federal property, according to the indictment. While attempting to subdue both defendants, officers reportedly encountered significant resistance, necessitating the involvement of multiple personnel to gain control of the situation. The Federal Protective Service is leading the investigation.
Both Escobar and Gutierrez are currently free on $5,000 bond and are scheduled to be arraigned 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, plus up to one year for the depredation of property. Gutierrez could face up to 20 years behind bars for the assault resulting in injury, and another eight years for the second assault count.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The General Crimes Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. Grimy Times will continue to follow this developing story and bring you updates as they become available. Expect a full defense response in the coming weeks.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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