13 Gang Members Face Charges Over Courthouse Brawl

Felony charges were filed Thursday against 13 reputed gang members accused of starting a brawl at the Compton Courthouse earlier this week in an effort to intimidate witnesses.

Among the accused is William Pierce, 22, one of four defendants in a separate case arising from an April 10 shoot-out between rival gang members at a Southside high school. Two witnesses in that case were among those attacked Tuesday, Deputy Dist. Atty. Anthony R. Gaston said.

The melee began as the gang members spotted the witnesses they were looking for and began attacking people who were in the way, Gaston said. No weapons were used, he said.

None of the victims, including a 61-year-old woman who was struck in the face, suffered serious injuries, Gaston said. Two of those hit were jurors, he said.

Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Ira Reiner said: “I am going to make an example out of these defendants with an all-out effort to obtain the maximum sentences. . . . We will not allow them to bring their street wars into the courthouse.”

The gang members, each of whom was charged with two counts of witness intimidation and four of assault, face maximum sentences of nine years each. Eight pleaded not guilty Thursday in Compton Municipal Court. Two of the suspects are juveniles. Three others will be arraigned later.