Protesters charged for assaulting LA Sheriff’s Division horses – NBC Los Angeles

Two individuals accused of assaulting Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Division horses throughout protests sparked by federal immigration raids have been charged with animal cruelty and different costs, the Los Angeles County District Legal professional’s Workplace introduced Tuesday.

Dana Whitson, 66, of Oro Valley, Arizona, was charged with one felony depend every of assault upon a peace officer, resisting arrest and animal cruelty for allegedly pushing an LASD horse a number of occasions after which hitting the animal’s muzzle and pulling on its rein June 13, in line with the District Legal professional’s Workplace.

Whitson may resist six years and 4 months in jail if convicted.

Iran Castro, 29, of El Monte, was charged with two felony counts every of animal cruelty and assault upon a peace officer, together with one felony depend of resisting arrest.

Authorities allege that Castro started pulling on the bridle of 1 horse after which grabbed the reins of one other horse as sheriff’s mounted deputies moved towards a crowd on the intersection of Temple and Los Angeles streets after a dispersal order was given, and that she had been free on her personal recognizance in one other felony case on the time.

Castro may resist 10 years and 4 months in jail, in line with the District Legal professional’s Workplace.

Additionally among the many greater than 40 individuals who have been charged with crimes stemming from final month’s immigration protests are:

• Patrick Munoz, 38, of Whittier, who allegedly jabbed a flagpole at an officer, inflicting damage, as police responded June 11 to a protest outdoors a lodge within the 7300 block of Greenleaf Avenue in Whittier, the place protesters believed immigration brokers have been staying. Munoz is charged with one felony depend every of assault upon a peace officer and resisting arrest, and one misdemeanor depend of rioting, and faces
  as much as 9 years and two months in jail if convicted as charged.
• Lucia Aguilar Cole and Antonia Aguilar, each 27, of Pasadena, who’re every charged with one felony depend of utilizing drive or violence to discourage or forestall an officer from performing an obligation imposed by regulation and one misdemeanor depend of rioting. Prosecutors allege the 2 sisters have been on Alameda Avenue close to the 101 Freeway when officers informed a gaggle of protesters to depart the world June 8. Aguilar Cole is accused of throwing a plastic water bottle at an officer, and her sister allegedly interfered and tried to stop officers from arresting her sister, in line with the District Legal professional’s Workplace. The 2 may every resist three years and 6 months in jail if convicted as charged.
• Robert McGrath, 21, of Lakewood, who’s charged with one felony depend of vandalism for allegedly spray-painting an expletive on the aspect of the federal Veterans Affairs constructing in downtown Los Angeles June 13. If convicted of the cost, he may resist three years in jail.
• Robert Amaya, 48, of Los Angeles, who’s charged with a felony depend of assault with a lethal weapon for allegedly approaching an 11-year-old lady whose household was leaving the protests in downtown Los Angeles June 10 and making a stabbing movement at her, in line with the District Legal professional’s Workplace. The lady managed to leap away and was not injured, authorities stated. Amaya may resist 13 years behind bars if convicted of the cost, in line with the District Legal professional’s Workplace.
• A 17-year-old who’s charged with one felony depend every of tried homicide, assault upon on peace officer and vandalism and two misdemeanor counts of rioting.

The massive-scale protests could have ended for now, however our work has not,” District Legal professional Nathan Hochman stated in a press release saying the fees.

“We’re persevering with to evaluation proof, establish suspects and file costs the place the regulation has been damaged. I need to thank the crew of investigators and prosecutors for his or her tireless efforts to make sure that those that dedicated legal acts beneath the guise of protest are held accountable,” Hochman stated.