A federal grand jury has indicted two individuals following an anti-immigration enforcement protest that took place last month in downtown Los Angeles. The indictment charges Erin Petra Escobar, 34, of the Palms neighborhood in Los Angeles, and Nick Elias Gutierrez, 20, of Hawthorne, with multiple offenses related to their alleged actions during the demonstration.
According to court documents and the indictment, on July 17 a small group of protesters gathered near the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building and United States Courthouse to protest recent federal immigration enforcement operations. Federal officers observed Escobar using a permanent marker to write on and damage government property. When officers attempted to detain her, Gutierrez allegedly intervened by grabbing an officer’s bulletproof vest straps with both hands and shaking the officer. During this altercation, one officer suffered a dislocated finger.
Both Escobar and Gutierrez were detained at the scene. While being transported to a holding cell, Escobar allegedly spat into an officer's face.
Escobar is charged with one felony count of assault on a federal officer or employee and one misdemeanor count of depredation of government property. Gutierrez faces two felonies: assault on a federal officer or employee and assault resulting in bodily injury.
The arraignments for both defendants are set for August 15 at the United States District Court in Los Angeles. Both have been released on $5,000 bond pending trial.
"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 federal prison for assault and up to one year for damaging government property. Gutierrez could face up to 20 years for assault resulting in injury and eight years for assaulting an officer.
The case is being investigated by the United States Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Protective Service and prosecuted by the General Crimes Section.
