Hearing Set for 5 Accused of Beating the Homeless
A Jan. 5 court date was set for five alleged Latino gang members accused of aiding in Sunday’s skid row attack on homeless black men with a baseball bat, a machete and a pool cue, a prosecutor said Tuesday.
The defendants are charged with one count each of inciting a riot and causing an injury or making a threat motivated by hate, Deputy City Atty. Brian Williams said.
The five pleaded innocent to the misdemeanor charges in Los Angeles Municipal Court. Rodolfo Valenzuela, 23, Jorge Cortez Garcia, 24, Alberto Hernandez Lopez, 25, Fernando Gomez, 18, and Mario Castaneda, 20, went on a rampage after a member of their gang was attacked by a black man in the area, Williams alleged.
The felony cases of four others accused in the attack were sent to the district attorney’s office for prosecution, Williams said.
The crimes occurred near 5th and San Pedro streets. The nine suspects were arrested after a witness reported the attacks, but none of the victims could be located, Williams said.
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