Charges filed against 5 in downtown L.A. protests, including fire suspect

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman on Tuesday announced felony charges against several individuals, including one man who allegedly threw a rock at a CHP vehicle and set another on fire, for their actions during several days of anti-ICE protests in downtown Los Angeles.

The D.A. first pointed out that charges were filed against a “relatively small segment” of the thousands who were demonstrating.

“These are people for whom the protest was a cover,” Hochman said during a Tuesday morning news conference. “They weren’t interested in protesting. They weren’t interested in joining the tens of thousands, or hundreds of thousands, of people that wanted to legitimately voice their concerns about what’s going on in society.”

Hochman said that this smaller group “wanted to commit crimes” and proved to be a “huge disservice to the legitimate protesters out there.”

The D.A. provided details on five individuals charged with felony counts:

William Rubio, 23, of Los Angeles

Charged with two felony counts each of assault upon a peace officer and use of a destructive device to injure or destroy.

On June 8, at about 11:45 p.m., police were responding to the intersection of First and Spring streets where protesters had gathered. Rubio is accused of throwing fireworks at officers that he had in a backpack. A search of Rubio’s backpack revealed additional fireworks.

If convicted as charged, Rubio faces up to eight years and eight months in prison.

Terrill Tillis, 30, of Wilmington

Charged with one felony count of possession of a firearm by a felon and one misdemeanor count of giving or receiving a large-capacity magazine.

On June 11, at about 12:30 a.m., Tillis was detained at the corner of Third and Spring streets for being out past a Los Angeles city-mandated curfew. He allegedly had a loaded firearm with 15 rounds in the magazine.

If convicted as charged, Tillis faces up to six years and six months in prison.

Antonio DeLaRosa, 44, of Lynwood

Charged with one felony count of discharge of a laser at an aircraft.

On June 12, at about 9 p.m., DeLaRosa was in the area of a protest in San Pedro when he allegedly pointed a green laser at a LAPD helicopter several times.

If convicted as charged, DeLaRosa faces up to three years in prison.

Eddie Lee Baldwin, 39, of Los Angeles

Charged with one felony count of second-degree commercial burglary.

On June 9, at about 11:45 p.m., Baldwin is accused of being in a group of people who forced their way into an Apple Store in the 800 block of South Broadway to loot items.

If convicted as charged, he faces up to six years in prison.

Adam Palermo, 39

Charged with four felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer and one felony count each of arson and vandalism.

On June 8, at about 7 p.m., Palermo is accused of throwing a large rock at a California Highway Patrol vehicle from an overpass on the 101 Freeway. He also allegedly lit an object on fire and threw it onto a CHP SUV that was parked on the freeway. The vehicle caught fire.

If convicted as charged, Palermo faces up to nine years and eight months in state prison.

Palermo is also facing federal charges in connection with his actions, U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said at the news conference.

Palermo posted images on his social media account containing a collage of photos and videos showing damage to California Highway Patrol cars with a caption reading, “All of the protests I’ve been involved in, which is well over 100 now, I’m most proud of what I did today,” Essayli said.

Federal charges against Palermo would bring a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years.

Essayli said his office has charged more than 20 individuals with federal crimes.

Hochman warned those who were wearing masks and other face coverings, like Palermo had, that they will be caught as investigators work through evidence and anonymous tips.

“When they get this evidence, they are going to find these people behind these masks, behind these coverings, who thought they could go ahead and commit these crimes with impunity,” Hochman said. “Now they’re going to realize something different.”