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D.A. Gascón Announces Exoneration of
Man Wrongfully Convicted of Robbery,
Kidnapping and Sexual Assault

D.A. George Gascón, joined by The Innocence Center and California Innocence Project at California Western School of Law, stood with Gerardo Cabanillas and his loved ones to announce Mr. Cabanillas’ exoneration and release from prison.

“We acknowledge a grave injustice that has resulted in more than 28 years of incarceration for Mr. Cabanillas,” District Attorney Gascón said. “Upon thorough reexamination of the evidence and a comprehensive review of the case by my office’s Conviction Integrity Unit, it has become abundantly clear that a serious error was made. I extend my deepest apologies to Mr. Cabanillas for the miscarriage of justice and the failure of our criminal legal system.”

Mr. Cabanillas spent nearly 30 years behind bars after being wrongfully convicted in 1996 of 14 felony counts, including second-degree robbery, kidnapping and sexual assault.

Mr. Cabanillas was 18 years old at the time of his arrest. No physical evidence was ever collected tying Mr. Cabanillas to the crimes and fingerprints collected did not match his.

DNA testing of evidence over the last few years found no match for Mr. Cabanillas. A thorough review by LADA’s Conviction Integrity Unit further led to finding Mr. Cabanillas factually innocent.

Read our news release here.

Watch the full news conference here.

Watch it on TikTok.

Man Charged With Murder of Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer in Palmdale

Los Angeles County D.A. George Gascón and L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna announced Sept. 20 that Kevin Eduardo Cataneo Salazar has been charged with the murder of Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer. They were joined by Deputy Clinkunbroomer’s family and Palmdale LASD Deputies.

“My heart is broken during this incredibly difficult time for the family of Deputy Clinkunbroomer and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department,” District Attorney Gascón said. “This senseless act of violence is an affront to the values of justice and peace that we hold dear in our community. Our law enforcement partners worked tirelessly to investigate and find the alleged individual responsible for murdering Deputy Clinkunbroomer. I want to assure you that my office’s Crimes Against Peace Officers' Division is committed to bringing to justice the person responsible for this heinous crime.” 

Kevin Eduardo Cataneo Salazar was charged with one count of murder. It is further alleged that Salazar used a .22 Caliber Revolver, intentionally killing Deputy Clinkunbroomer by means of lying-in wait, and discharged a firearm from a motor vehicle in the commission of the above offense. Salazar is being held without bail, and if convicted as charged, will face a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Read our news release here.

Watch the news conference here.

Watch it on TikTok.

D.A. Gascón Announces Creation of New
Labor Justice Unit; Historic Charges Filed
in Wage Theft in South Los Angeles

District Attorney Gascón was joined by State Labor Commissioner Lilia García-Brower; representative for the office of Supervisor Solis, Esther Lim; Thai Community Development Center founder and director Chanchanit Martorell; and labor justice advocates to announce the creation of LADA’s Labor Justice Unit (LJU) and the filing of a wage theft case in South Los Angeles.

The LJU filed its first wage theft case in a seven-count felony complaint against owners of two garment industry businesses. The case also is the first office filing of PC 487m, grand theft wages, a groundbreaking new law that updated the ability to recognize and charge theft of wages as a felony level crime.

Read our press release here.

Watch it on TikTok.

Watch the full news conference here.

If you believe you were a victim of wage theft by the defendants Park or Lee, please call the California Labor Commissioner’s Office Investigator Eduardo Martinez at (818) 901-5305.

To report wage theft, please file a complaint at https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/howtofilewageclaim.htm or call (833) LCO-INFO (526-4636).

Actor Danny Masterson Found Guilty
of Raping Two Women

Actor Danny Masterson was sentenced to 30 years to life in state prison for forcibly raping two women in separate incidents dating back to 2003.

We are grateful for the victims who bravely came forward to report these crimes and their contributions to the judicial process, and the trial staff for their tireless and dedicated commitment toward justice.

Read our news release here.

LADA Continues To Crack Down
on Organized Retail Thefts

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced that four men have been charged in connection with organized retail thefts at two Ross Dress for Less stores on two dates in late August.

Read our news release here.

Recently, the Los Angeles Police Department, and law enforcement partners from Glendale Police Department, Beverly Hills Police Department, Burbank Police Department, California Highway Patrol, and the Bureau of Investigation Office of the Los Angeles County District Attorney, formed the Organized Retail Crime Taskforce (ORCT).

Anyone with information about these types of incidents or the identity of additional suspects is asked to call the Organized Retail Crime Taskforce at (818) 374-9420. During non-business hours or on the weekends, calls should be directed to (877) LAPD-24-7 (527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477).

Remembering Those Who Perished
in the September 11 Attacks

Commemorating Hispanic and Latino
Heritage Month

El Grito Celebration

D.A. Gascón and LADA marked the start of Hispanic and Latino heritage month by joining our Mexican-American colleagues and L.A. City family in celebration of El Grito, on the steps of L.A. City Hall.

El Grito, or “the Cry,” commemorates the ringing of the Dolores village parish bell by father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla in 1810, calling Mexicans to rise against the Spanish crown and fight for independence.

Congratulations to this year’s El Grito Madrina, Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, and her entire team on a successful and joyous event!

Supporting All Children

In recognition of Child Welfare and Attendance Month, we recognize the critical work of our school counselors in ensuring the well-being and safety of our students, while preparing them for successful futures.

“Supporting the well-being of every child creates a profound impact on students’ lives,” District Attorney George Gascón said. “I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our devoted Los Angeles County Pupil Services and Attendance Counselors, whose unwavering dedication and passion foster inclusive and inviting spaces for our students and their families.”

LADA Meets With African Judicial Officials To
Discuss Protecting Victims of Trafficking

LADA was honored to welcome a delegation of African judicial officials to the Hall of Justice as part of the State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program, coordinated by the Meridian International Center.

District Attorney George Gascón, Chief Deputy Sharon Woo, LADA Bureau of Victim Services Director Tanishia Wright and Bureau of Investigation Assistant Chief Jorge Rodriguez met with the delegation to discuss best practices in the process of identifying and protecting victims of trafficking, how to help victims heal from within the judicial system and how to effectively prosecute perpetrators of trafficking crimes.

Delegates who met with LADA include representatives from Benin, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Guinea, Haiti, Kenya, Morocco, Senegal and Zambia.

L.A. County Prosecutors Meet at HOJ
To Discuss Public Safety Issues

LADA was proud to host this quarter’s meeting of the Los Angeles County Prosecutors Association (LACPA) at the Hall of Justice. Prosecutors met on key issues confronting local jurisdictions throughout the region.

We thank this year’s LACPA President, Long Beach City Prosecutor Doug Haubert, and all the L.A. County’s city prosecutors’ offices who joined us!

Congratulations New DDA IIIs!

District Attorney Gascón promoted 76 prosecutors to their new roles in a special ceremony celebrating their dedicated work in the criminal legal system.

Welcome New DDA Is!

We congratulate our new DDA Is!

District Attorney Gascón swore in 17 Deputy District Attorneys, who will begin their new assignments soon.

Shanah Tovah!

CA's  Victim Offender Dialogue Program
Offers Healing for Survivors

Rebecca Weiker, founding member of LADA’s Crime Victims Advisory Board and a Victim Offender Dialogue (VOD) Program facilitator, joined our Bureau of Victim Services recently to discuss the VOD process. The Victim Offender Dialogue (VOD) is a free program available to survivors or surviving family members that can provide a path to further healing and justice by meeting face-to-face with the person who committed the offense.

The primary objective is for the survivor to feel heard, and for the offender to fully understand the effects of what he or she has done. These dialogues are facilitated at California correctional facilities, federal correctional facilities and in the community throughout the State of California.

Watch it on TikTok.

Learn more about the Victim Offender Dialogue Program here.

Learn more about Rebecca’s work with the Mend Collaborative here.

BVS Holds Forum in Honor of Homicide Victims

In honor of National Day of Remembrance for Homicide Victims, LADA hosted a virtual Community Provider Forum to discuss “Grief and Loss: Its Financial Cost.”

Speakers from multiple agencies joined LADA Bureau of Victim Services and Bureau of Communications personnel to discuss the benefits of running a support group, dealing with emotionally and financially challenging topics such as burial costs, and other related topics.

Thanks to everyone who participated!

Watch the forum here.

Recognizing LADA's Women in Law Enforcement

District Attorney Gascón and LADA’s Bureau of Investigation gathered to celebrate and recognize LADA’s women in law enforcement on National Police Woman Day.

LADA’s Bureau of Investigation is the county’s fourth largest law enforcement agency. BOI maintains a staff of nearly 300 sworn peace officers, known as D.A. investigators, who conduct some of the most unique, sensitive and complex criminal investigations in law enforcement.

We thank and recognize all of the women in law enforcement here at LADA and across the country.

Watch it on TikTok.

Welcome Newest Investigator Ancheta

LADA congratulates the Bureau of Investigation’s newest investigator, Alvaro Ancheta, on his swearing-in.

We are proud of our BOI investigators for their dedicated service toward an equitable and just criminal legal system!

LACAAEA Scholarship Winners Honored

District Attorney Gascón and DDA Paul Kim joined Los Angeles County Asian American Employees Association’s annual Scholarship Fish Fry in Hacienda Heights to honor this year’s scholarship recipients. The scholarships are awarded to students as they pursue higher education.

The LACAAEA was founded in 1972 by L.A. County civil servants who sought to improve and promote the workplace for the county’s workforce who identified as Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders.

Watch it on TikTok.

Celebrating Mexican Independence Day

LADA was honored to celebrate Mexican Independence Day with the Compton community!

Visitors were treated to a day of history and culture through music, dance performances and food. LADA hosted a resource table for the community with information about the office’s services.

D.A. Gascón Speaks on Mass Incarceration
at Southwestern Law School

D.A. Gascón visited Southwestern Law School as a part of SWL’s Mass Incarceration Awareness Law Society panel series to discuss justice reform and community safety. Thank you to MIALS for coordinating this important annual event!

Watch it on TikTok.

• Eyewitness Newsmakers: Can anything be done to combat retail thefts? DA Gascón discusses
  
  
• Sheriff's Department employee accused of illegally recording colleagues
  
  
• Los Angeles County D.A. Gascón Announced 3 Charged in Murder and Robbery on Angeles Crest Highway in Pasadena in July
  
  
• Man Charged with Murder in Metro Stabbing Death of Passenger in Downtown Los Angeles
  
  
• Editorial: Goodbye to cash bail. L.A. is moving to a better approach to pretrial justice

Know Your Rights

Please join our Elder Abuse and Scams Workshop hosted by LADA’s Asian American and Pacific Islander Advisory Board, Bet Tzedek, L.A. County’s Aging and Disabilities Department and Thai CDC on Oct. 20 with free refreshments!

Register here.

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