News Releases & Advisories

July 21, 2026: Former Attorney Pleads Guilty to Stealing More Than $300,000 From Clients to Support Gambling Habit

LOS ANGELES – A 36-year-old attorney who has since been disbarred has pleaded guilty to misappropriating more than $300,000 from his former clients and passing non-sufficient fund checks to pay for his gambling addiction.

July 17, 2026: Man Charged With Murder of Nursing Student in Deadly Shooting at Compton Fourth of July Celebration

COMPTON, Calif. — A 54-year-old man has been charged with opening fire at a Fourth of July block party in Compton, killing a 19-year-old nursing student and severely injuring two teenagers as they celebrated the holiday with friends and family.

July 13, 2026: Langham to Pay $320,000 to the LA County District Attorney’s Office, County Counsel to Settle Price Gouging Lawsuit

PASADENA, Calif. — Langham Hotels Pacific Corporation will pay $320,000 to settle a consumer protection civil lawsuit brought by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and Los Angeles County Counsel’s Office alleging the company price gouged wildfire victims and other guests who stayed at its Pasadena hotel during the January 2025 wildfires and resulting state of emergency.

July 7, 2026: LADA-Sponsored Bill Targeting Repeat DUI Offenders Passes Assembly Public Safety Committee

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A DUI reform bill sponsored by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office to strengthen California’s drunk driving laws has passed the Assembly Public Safety Committee after it unanimously passed the Senate with bipartisan support in May 2026. SB 907 (Sen. Bob Archuleta, D-Los Angeles) is co-sponsored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and CA Safe Roads Coalition.

July 6, 2026: Anti-Labor Trafficking and Wage Theft Legislation Sponsored by Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office Signed Into Law

SACRAMENTO, Calif.— Anti-labor trafficking legislation co-sponsored by the Los Angeles County and Sonoma County District Attorneys’ Offices has been signed into law by California Governor Gavin Newsom and will take effect Jan. 1, 2027. AB 1583 was authored by Assemblymember Chris Rogers (D-Santa Rosa) and unanimously passed the state legislature with bipartisan support.

July 2, 2026: Six Unlicensed Contractors Charged With Illegally Operating in Palisades Fire Disaster Zone

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is continuing its wildfire recovery enforcement with charges against six unlicensed contractors accused of illegally operating in the Palisades Fire disaster zone following a joint operation with the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation and California’s Contractors State License Board (CSLB). In December 2025, the Office announced charges against five unlicensed contractors who were allegedly illegally operating in the Eaton Fire disaster zone following a previous joint operation with CSLB in Altadena.

July 1, 2026: Man Sentenced to 24 Years to Life for Murder of 17-Year-Old Honors Student and Attempted Murder

LOS ANGELES —David Anthony Zapata was sentenced to 24 years to life in state prison for the murder of 17-year-old honors student Xavier Chavarin and the attempted murder of Daniel Villalobos.

June 30, 2026: Woman Charged With Brutally Assaulting 60-Year-Old Street Vendor in Downtown Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES — A 19-year-old woman has been charged for violently attacking a 60-year-old street vendor over a dispute concerning a hot dog purchase in downtown Los Angeles earlier this month.

June 29, 2026: Speeding Driver Charged With Murders of LAPD Sgt. Shiou Deng and Stranded Motorist Jesus Garcia on 405 Freeway

LOS ANGELES — The speeding driver who struck on-duty Los Angeles Police Department Sgt. Shiou Lih Deng and stranded motorist Jesús Arturo Garcia on the 405 Freeway last year has been charged with murder in the deaths of both men. Sgt. Deng was 53 years old and had served the LAPD for over 26 years.

June 24, 2026: District Attorney Hochman Discusses Charges in Explosives Cases, Vows Aggressive Enforcement Ahead of July 4

LOS ANGELES — As Independence Day approaches, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman is reminding residents of the devastating consequences of illegal fireworks and explosives, including the Office’s commitment to prosecute those who transport, sell and use these lethal devices.

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