Please attribute the following statement on today’s verdict in the federal trial of three former Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies to Hector Villagra, executive director of the ACLU of Southern California (ACLU SoCal):
ACLU SoCal welcomes today’s verdict. This case embodies all that was wrong with the Los Angeles County jails, not only the brutality but also the willingness of deputies and a sergeant to lie about it. The former district attorney is also complicit for both pursuing criminal charges against Mr. Carrillo based on the false statement of these deputies and a sergeant, later declining to file criminal charges against the deputies and concluding “[t]here is no evidence to suggest that the deputies acted inappropriately.” It’s shameful that it fell to the federal government to bring charges against these sheriff’s officials who so violated the public trust.
We are grateful that the U.S. Attorney stepped in and pursued justice because local authorities fell woefully short of their duty. We hope that today’s verdict is yet another signal that reform is underway at the nation’s largest jail system but we will remain vigilant to ensure this type of savage beating and obstruction of justice is never repeated.
Media contact: Sandra Hernandez, 213.977.5252, shernandez@aclusocal.org
