Criminal Justice

Judge sets April hearing to consider shutdown of Los Padrinos juvenile hall

A state board found last year that the county repeatedly failed to meet minimum staffing requirements at the facility.

A sign reads on a dirty building reads: Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall. Street lights and wires are visible over the roof.

Drone operator to plead guilty in crash that damaged water-dropping plane during Palisades Fire

Prosecutors said a Culver City man agreed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge stemming from the incident that briefly grounded the plane.

A yellow small plane flies low dropping water over a neighborhood while smoke billows in the backdrop.

Is the OC snitch scandal over? Why there’s no easy answer

The federal government recently settled with Orange County over reforms. But a pending ruling could call into question their effectiveness. A decision is expected soon.

The setting is a courtroom: A man wearing a dark suit is sitting and looking at a man, also wearing a dark suit, as the man is speaking in reference to some papers in his hand.

Couple accused of impersonating firefighters in Palisades Fire — complete with their own fire engine

The couple, prosecutors say, bought the fire engine at an auction and now face 180 days in jail.

Two people, one in a yellow shirt and hat and another in a dark top, stand beside a red fire engine.

OC DA charges Westminster councilmember with trying to bribe parking officer

Amy Phan West allegedly tried to stop her husband’s Jeep from getting towed.

A white vehicles zooms past a street sign that reads Welcome to Little Saigon, City of Westminster.

DA announces special prosecutor to handle police misconduct cases

Michael Gennaco, a former federal prosecutor and one-time Sheriff’s Department watchdog, was appointed by D.A. Nathan Hochman

A white man with short, dark brown hair stands at a lectern. He's wearing a blue suit, white shirt and blue diagonally striped tie.

DA: 9 people charged in connection with looting during fires in LA County

The allegedly offenses took place in the Palisades and Eaton fire areas, prosecutors say.

DA Hochman meets with Menendez family, says he has not decided whether to recommend brothers' release from prison

Hochman described the meeting with the family as "productive" but noted his staff is still reviewing documents related to the high-profile murder case.

Erik Menendez (left) is shown in 2016 and Lyle Menendez in 2018 in photos provided by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Avoid falling for this text scam claiming you owe a toll fee

California's attorney general is warning residents to be on the lookout for text messages that ask you to follow a link to pay an outstanding toll fee online.

A screenshot of a scam text requesting the recipient pay an outstanding toll fee and sharing a fraudulent link.

Emergency room workers are facing more attacks. A new California law increases penalties

A new California law imposes harsher penalties for assaulting emergency room workers. It responds to rising attacks on health care workers, despite concerns from progressives and prison-reform advocates

A man wearing a blue paper mask stands within an office cubicle. An intravenous bag stand is in front of him. In the foreground of the photo is a series of four photos pinned to the cubicle.

California stiffened penalties for theft — and more changes are coming

Californians accused of certain drug and retail theft offenses face longer sentences under Proposition 36. A batch of new crime laws takes effect Jan. 1, 2025.

Deputies in khaki clothes and inmates in dark blue clothes walk down a hallway.

How to protect yourself from AI scams this holiday season

Generative AI is making it easier for fraudsters to dupe people, now more than ever.

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