A Mother’s Lonely Stand Against Gangs : Crime: Viviana Guerra, mother of seven, has spoken out about the plight of her neighborhood. It has made her the target of thugs, a hero to police, and a figure in an unusual court case.

Police have a book on Viviana Guerra, a single mother who is trying to make a real home for her seven children in a tough North Hollywood neighborhood overrun by gangs, graffiti and drugs.

In a way, it is more horrifying than the other books the police keep, the ones with the pictures of the pushers, gunmen and thieves who are waging a battle with police to control Guerra’s neighborhood.

This one is a chilling record of months of harassment, attacks and vandalism Guerra has suffered as she has waged a lonely, uphill fight against gang members.

The book is being used this week by prosecutors to bolster their unusual criminal case against a gang member accused of making terrorist threats against Guerra.

The Los Angeles Police Department said Guerra is the only resident of her neighborhood who has been willing to report illegal activity and to testify in court. Her cooperation has made her the target of the gang that controls the neighborhood less than one block from the local police station, authorities said.

“You can only back up a dog so far until it comes out and attacks,” Guerra said modestly of her stand.

Guerra is divorced. Her children range from 5 to 19 years old. She said she moved to North Hollywood in 1982 from Echo Park, where she was born and raised, to escape gangs.

Authorities are proud of Guerra’s efforts and credit her with helping make a difference in a city faced with a shortage of police officers, who are far outnumbered by criminals.

“We need this citizen cooperation if we’re to bring back law and order in this city,” LAPD Detective Jorge Armenta said.

Last year, Guerra, who has lived on Tiara Street for 11 years and who has been managing an apartment building there for nearly a year, decided she couldn’t take it anymore.

“Somebody had to stand up to them,” she said.

Her efforts, bolstered by officers of the LAPD’s North Hollywood Division who have declared war on the gang, seem to have made some difference. Authorities say several gang members have been jailed as a result of her testimony.

Vandalism has slowed, authorities said, and periodic police sweeps have led to numerous arrests. Armenta said children can be seen playing on the street formerly controlled night and day by the gang.

Although Armenta and his unit have documented more than 50 cases of vandalism and abuse against Guerra, it was a relatively minor incident that led to the current criminal case.

Maximilliano Guerrero, a 20-year-old gang member who now lives in Lynwood, is accused of using his hand to simulate a gun and point it at Guerra. He allegedly then said, “We’re going to get you.”

A Van Nuys Superior Court jury is expected to begin deliberations today. If convicted of making terrorist threats and of actively participating in a gang, Guerrero could face nearly seven years in state prison. According to the prosecutor in the case, such charges have been filed in only a handful of cases.

The book police have compiled documents other attacks against Guerra, crimes that have never been prosecuted because no one has been willing to speak out.

“The last time they broke my window, it was only 9:30 at night,” Guerra said. “Even though people saw who did it, nobody was willing to testify.”

Their fear is well founded. In addition to the smashed windows, Guerra’s name has been repeatedly scrawled on local walls. “Bitch of the street,” “rat” and “snitch” are some of the kinder spray-painted epithets.

Guerra said her oldest son has been shot at. The gang has sent friends to beat her up, Guerra said.

“People are just terrified,” Armenta said. “They fear retaliation.”

Problems continue, mainly because police cannot be on Tiara Street all the time.

“Gangs seem to know when they (the police) have days off,” Guerra said. “I don’t go outside when I see gangs, I just don’t go outside.”

Although she still feels the intimidation, Guerra said her neighbors, though unwilling to work with police, congratulate her and support her efforts.

“She should be the role model for the community (because) the community is being held hostage,” said Deputy Dist. Atty. Franco A. Baratta, who is prosecuting the case.