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Additional cases are being presented to the District Attorney’s Office

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman announced today that more than a dozen people have been charged with various crimes, including assaulting peace officers, grand theft and vandalism during the immigration protests in Downtown Los Angeles over the past several days.

“I fiercely support the right to peacefully protest and to free speech, but my office will also fiercely prosecute those who decide to cross a line into criminal conduct,” District Attorney Hochman said. “We will protect those who hurl insults; we will prosecute those who hurl bricks, cinderblocks or fireworks at officers. An attack on our officers or on public or private property is an attack on all of us, and such criminals will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

Among the cases that have been filed:

Juan Rodriguez (dob 9/17/77) of Gardena. Case 25CJCF03354. Charged with one felony count each of assault upon a peace officer, resisting arrest and advocating violence against an officer causing injury. On June 8, at about 5 p.m., Rodriguez allegedly passed out commercial grade fireworks to a group of protesters who lit them and threw the items at police officers at the intersection of First and Los Angeles streets. He also is accused of throwing fireworks at officers, one of whom was injured by burning sparks from the exploding device. If convicted as charged, he faces up to six years and four months in state prison.

Randy Paul Ruiz (dob 11/23/97) and Georgina Ravellero (dob 7/18/00). Case 25CJCF03369. Both are charged with two felony counts of assault upon a peace officer. On June 8, at about 3:40 p.m., police were holding a skirmish line at the corner of Temple and Alameda streets when Ruiz allegedly drove a motorcycle into the line of officers. Minutes later, Ravellero is accused of driving another motorcycle into the officers, injuring one and knocking down several others. If convicted as charged, Ruiz and Ravellero each face up to six years and four months in state prison.

Ulysses Sanchez (dob 9/13/87) of Los Angeles. Case 25CJCF03368. Charged with one felony count each of assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm by a felon and one misdemeanor count each of reckless driving and possession of a smoking device. On June 8, at about 9:35 p.m., Sanchez is accused of recklessly driving a minivan in Downtown Los Angeles. He allegedly drove directly at protesters who then threw rocks and other items at the vehicle as Sanchez repeatedly drove in circles before speeding away. Sanchez was later arrested, and Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies found a loaded ghost gun and a methamphetamine pipe. If convicted as charged, Sanchez faces up to 25 years to life in state prison.

Christopher Gonzalez (dob 9/13/98) of Van Nuys and Yoselyn Johnson (dob 3/27/85) of Los Angeles. Case 25CJCF03379. Both are charged with one felony count of conspiracy to commit vandalism and two felony counts of vandalism. On June 9, at about 6:30 p.m., Gonzalez is accused of vandalizing an apartment complex in the 500 block of South Broadway while Johnson allegedly acted as a lookout. They drove away and about an hour later, Gonzalez allegedly painted graffiti on the side of the Hall of Justice while Johnson looked on. If convicted as charged, they each face up to three years, eight months in state prison to be served in county jail.

Timmie Paulk (dob 6/26/95) and Raven Mitchell (dob 8/28/99) both of Los Angeles. Case 25CJCF03355. Both are charged with one felony count each of second-degree commercial burglary and grand theft. On June 8, at about 10:15 p.m., Mitchell was double parked near a Nike store in the 600 block of South Broadway that was allegedly being looted by a group of people. Paulk is accused of stealing multiple items from the store and getting into the car driven by Mitchell. They fled but were arrested a short time later. If convicted as charged, they each face up to three years in state prison to be served in county jail.

Additional cases are being presented to the District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration. In some instances, people who were arrested have been cited and released by law enforcement. Those cases have not yet been presented.

The cases remain under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the California Highway Patrol.

The charges filed in these cases are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

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