Mother, boyfriend convicted in torture-killing of Anthony Avalos

By City News Service

hearing, the judge rejected the defendants' claims that Anthony had been injured after throwing himself to the ground and said that their statements were intended to "deceive authorities" about what had actually happened to the boy.

The judge said testimony during the trial from two of Anthony's half-siblings and one of Leiva's daughters — who said they witnessed Leiva repeatedly dropping Anthony on the bedroom floor — showed that Barron and Leiva "worked together to abuse Anthony." He said the boy died from severe dehydration and blunt force trauma to the head and said the 10-year-old was "helpless to protect himself" from his mother and her boyfriend.

Barron waited to call 911 for help for Anthony until he was "literally deceased," the judge said, saying that subsequent statements by Barron and Leiva were part of a coordinated effort to cover up their liability for the boy's death.

One of Leiva's attorneys, Daniel Nardoni, said after the verdict that the defense team had hoped for a conviction on the lesser charge of second-degree murder and that he was "somewhat disappointed that the special circumstance was found to be true." He said he expects the defense to file a notice of appeal on Leiva's behalf.

Leiva and Barron face a maximum of life in prison without the possibility of parole when they are sentenced on April 25.

Over Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Hatami's objection, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office had dropped its bid for the death penalty against the two after the election of District Attorney George Gascón, who issued a directive that "a sentence of death is never an appropri- ate resolution in any case."

The prosecutor told reporters that he had refused to comply with an order by Gascón to remove the special circumstance allegation, which would have resulted in a 25-yearto-life sentence in which the two defendants could have eventually been eligible for parole.

"George Gascón refused to meet with the family. He refused to meet with me. He refused to listen to any of the evidence. What kind of a

See A nthony Avalos Page 12

LA County looks to raise awareness of gun violence restraining orders

City News Service

Calling it an effective law that is underutilized locally, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Tuesday directed its staff to develop a public awareness campaign about the state's red flag law allowing weapons to be seized from people deemed to be a danger of harming them- selves or others.

The 2016 law allows certain people -- including police, family members, domestic partners, housemates and school officials -- to petition a court for a Gun Violence Restraining Order. Such an order mandates that the subject

See G un violence Page of the petition who is deemed a threat to themselves or others be stripped of firearms and ammunition for up to five years.

The law also prohibits anyone subject to a GVRO from purchasing weapons and ammunition, including those who do not currently in court case number ES016728 City of Burbank, County of Los Angeles, State of California.

The Glendale Independent has been adjudicated as a newspaper of general circulation in court case number ES016579 City of Glendale, County of Los Angeles, State of California.

The Monterey Park Press has been adjudicated as a newspaper of general circulation in court case number ES016580 City of Monterey Park, County of Los Angeles, State of California.

The West Covina Press has been adjudicated as a newspaper of general circulation in court case number KS017304 City of West Covina, County of