A federal grand jury has indicted two individuals in connection with an incident during an anti-immigration enforcement protest outside the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building and United States Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles last month.
Erin Petra Escobar, 34, of the Palms neighborhood in Los Angeles, faces one felony count of assault on a federal officer or employee and one misdemeanor count of depredation of government property. Nick Elias Gutierrez, 20, of Hawthorne, is charged with two felonies: assault on a federal officer or employee and assault on a federal officer or employee resulting in bodily injury.
The indictment alleges that on July 17, a small group gathered to protest recent federal immigration enforcement operations. The Roybal building’s entrances are marked as federal property. According to court documents, Escobar was seen using a permanent marker to write on and damage government property. When officers tried to detain her, Gutierrez allegedly intervened by grabbing the shoulder straps of an officer’s bulletproof vest and shaking him. During the struggle that followed, one officer dislocated his left ring finger.
Both defendants were detained and arrested at the scene. While being transported to a holding cell, Escobar allegedly spat into the face of one of the officers.
“An indictment contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
If convicted, Escobar could face up to eight years in prison for assaulting an officer and up to one year for damaging government property. Gutierrez could receive up to 20 years for assault resulting in injury and up to eight years for the other assault charge.
The United States Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Protective Service is conducting the investigation. The General Crimes Section is prosecuting the case.
Escobar and Gutierrez are scheduled for arraignment on August 15 at United States District Court in Los Angeles. Both have been released on $5,000 bond.
