logo
In scandal-plagued Huntington Park, the abrupt ouster of a council member raises alarms

In scandal-plagued Huntington Park, the abrupt ouster of a council member raises alarms

In February, the Huntington Park City Council met behind closed doors to discuss a seemingly routine item on their agenda — potential litigation the city was anticipating.
Everyone on the council was allowed to attend the meeting but one — then-Councilmember Esmerelda Castillo. Barred from the closed-door discussion, the 22-year-old was later seen on camera picking up her things from the dais and making a quiet exit.
When the council met again a week later, Castillo was no longer listed as a member. On the agenda instead was an item to fill her seat.
As Castillo would come to learn, the city had quietly launched an investigation to determine if she was a city resident and concluded she was not, kicking her off the council — all without her knowledge.
While residency requirements for municipal seats are common, Huntington Park's move to investigate one of its own council members, then remove her unilaterally, is virtually unprecedented, experts say.
'I've never heard of a city doing it that way. There's always someone complaining to the district attorney, usually from an opponent,' said Steve Cooley, who oversaw about a dozen residency cases during his time as Los Angeles County's top prosecutor.
Two weeks ago, in response to a lawsuit filed by Castillo against the city, the council and the city manager, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge issued a temporary restraining order preventing Huntington Park from filling the vacant seat.
Castillo's removal from office has angered residents in this scandal-plagued city. Amid the ongoing legal fight to regain her seat, several current and former council members are embroiled in a corruption probe with the D.A.'s office over the alleged misuse of public funds.
On Feb. 26, D.A. investigators executed search warrants as part of 'Operation Dirty Pond,' a probe into the alleged misuse of taxpayer funds allocated for a $24-million aquatic center that hasn't been built. No one has been charged.
The search warrants were executed at the homes of then-Mayor Karina Macias, Councilman Eduardo 'Eddie' Martinez and City Manager Ricardo Reyes. Search warrants were also executed at the homes of two former council members, a contractor and a consultant.
Altogether, the turmoil is making Huntington Park residents weary.
'I feel sad, defrauded, angry and powerless,' said Maria Hernandez, 50, a longtime Huntington Park resident who attended last week's court hearing to support the former councilwoman.
Castillo declined to be interviewed for this story, but her attorney, Albert Robles, said his client has been caring for her ailing parents while maintaining a full-time residence in Huntington Park, which he said is permitted under state and city election laws. He said Castillo's removal was politically motivated.
'Here, defendants not only acted as judge, jury and executioner, but to further highlight defendants' self-directed unjust political power grab, [they] also conducted the investigation,' Castillo alleges in her suit.
The city notified Castillo via letter she'd been investigated and removed from the council as a non-resident but did not allow her to attend the Feb. 18 closed-door meeting when the results of the probe were discussed, Robles said. He claimed it was retaliation for Castillo accusing the members of bullying and harassment in a formal complaint to the city in January.
But Andrew Sarega, whom the city hired to oversee its investigation into Castillo, disputed those claims and said the probe into Castillo began months before she filed her grievance.
He said a complaint was filed in August with the district attorney's Public Integrity Division, which looks into criminal allegations made against public officials.
According to an email obtained by The Times, the D.A.'s office declined to take the case, saying the matter was civil, not criminal. That put the case back in the lap of Huntington Park authorities, who looked at the city's municipal code that says when a mayor or council member moves out of the city or leaves office, their seat 'shall immediately become vacant.'
'It doesn't say you have to go to court, you don't have to do X, Y and Z; that's what the black letter law says,' Sarega said. 'And so, based on the investigation and everything that had been discovered that seat was deemed vacant.'
Scott Cummings, a UCLA law professor who teaches ethics, said although the council's actions may not have been best practice, it appears legally sound.
'It was her action that created the vacancy and the city council had no obligation to vote on anything necessarily because it's an automatic trigger,' he said. 'But it all boils down as to whether or not it's true, and it does seem like a full investigation with transparency is in order.'
Cooley, who created the D.A.'s Public Integrity Division that looks into potential wrongdoing by public officials, agreed with Cummings and said local and state prosecutors should take up these cases to combat the appearance of conflict.
The city launched its investigation into Castillo in November, after the city manager heard multiple complaints alleging Castillo did not live in the city, Sarega said.
The investigation included surveillance, court-approved GPS tracking, and search warrants at her Huntington Park apartment and parents' home in South Gate. Investigators also interviewed five witnesses, including Castillo, according to Sarega.
He said investigators tracked Castillo's vehicle for a month in January and found that she had stayed at the Huntington Park apartment only once. Someone else was living there, but she had mail sent there too, Sarega said.
The Times visited the former councilwoman's apartment for several days in February with no one answering the door. Most neighbors in the area said they had not seen Castillo when shown photos of her.
Robles, Castillo's attorney, disputed the city's allegations.
In a declaration to support the restraining order against the city, Castillo wrote that she moved into the Huntington Park apartment near Saturn Avenue and Malabar Street after the owner of the house her family was renting planned to use it for their own family.
'My neighbors across the street,' she wrote, 'whom I have known most of my life and considered family, offered to allow me to stay in a room in their home, until I could afford my own apartment.'
She wrote that her parents moved to South Gate, where she started visiting frequently because her mother's health had worsened, requiring more visits to a physician and a specialist. She said that included overnight stays.
Robles said regardless of which city his client lives in, she was never given due process guaranteed under California law.
He worried that a ruling against his client could set precedent for cities across the state who may take similar actions when dealing with cases in which an elected official is being accused of not living in their city.
'If you don't think other cities are going to do it, you're mistaken,' he said.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Rodney King riots officer says LA Mayor Karen Bass responded ‘too late' to anti-ICE violence: ‘History is repeating'
Rodney King riots officer says LA Mayor Karen Bass responded ‘too late' to anti-ICE violence: ‘History is repeating'

New York Post

time9 hours ago

  • New York Post

Rodney King riots officer says LA Mayor Karen Bass responded ‘too late' to anti-ICE violence: ‘History is repeating'

A former Los Angeles Police Department detective who was on the force during the 1992 Rodney King riots said that Democrat Mayor Karen Bass was too late in calling for law and order to be restored as riots broke out in the city this week. President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles as anti-ICE violence escalated over the weekend, prompting pushback from Democrat California Gov. Gavin Newsom. On Monday, the U.S. Northern Command announced that 700 Marines would be sent to the greater Los Angeles area to help protect federal property and agents. Advertisement LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said on Tuesday his department made 197 arrests, with 130 of those occurring near Commercial and Alameda, and the other 67 occurring after protesters occupied the 101 freeway. The LAPD said it arrested 96 people overnight Monday during protests in the downtown area. Charges included assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, failure to disperse and looting and arson. One person was arrested for attempted murder with a Molotov cocktail. 4 Former LAPD detective Moses Castillo says LA Mayor Karen Bass was too late in calling for order to be restored. Fox News Police have used tear gas in an attempt to disperse protesters. Numerous businesses in the Los Angeles area were also looted. Advertisement Moses Castillo, a former LAPD detective, told Fox News Digital that Bass was too late in calling for order to be restored. 'She's now trying to play catch up,' Castillo said. 'I think if she would have been very more forceful in the beginning that we're not gonna tolerate these crimes and allow police officers to do their job and arrest people on site, I'd think it would have be different. Instead, she's now saying it now that these crimes would not be tolerated, looting would not tolerated. But it's a little bit too late.' 4 LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said on Tuesday his department made 197 arrests, with 130 of those occurring near Commercial and Alameda. Toby Canham for NY Post Fox News Digital reached out to Bass' office. Advertisement Castillo said that he thinks both sides are using the violent protests to attack each other, something he says needs to stop. 'I believe that both sides, the president, Governor Newsom, are using the media waves to attack one another,' Castillo said. 'To me, that's like going back to high school, really. I think they wanted to do is come to the table. Let's have a face-to-face, let's have a meeting, let's hash out the issues, and let's find solutions.' 4 Mayor Bass is 'trying to play catch-up' according to Castillo. AP 'They're not united in this front,' he added. Advertisement Castillo recalled being an LAPD trainee during the Rodney King race riots in 1992, and said 'History is repeating itself.' 'Here, people are upset about the immigration policies of this current White House administration and the difference also being is we're in a time where social media is instant. Images are going up there, so it's easy to get the word out and get people down to come in and create chaos,' Castillo said. 4 Castillo said that he thinks both sides are using the violent protests to attack each other, something he says needs to stop. Bettmann Archive 'History is repeating itself, and this time we're dealing with a lot of violence against police officers. They're throwing bottles of cocktails, they're throwing cinder blocks, you name it.' Fox News Digital's Greg Wehner and Louis Casiano contributed to this report.

Rodney King riots officer says LA mayor acted ‘too late' as anti-ICE violence engulfs city
Rodney King riots officer says LA mayor acted ‘too late' as anti-ICE violence engulfs city

Yahoo

time10 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Rodney King riots officer says LA mayor acted ‘too late' as anti-ICE violence engulfs city

A former Los Angeles Police Department detective who was on the force during the 1992 Rodney King riots said that Democrat Mayor Karen Bass was too late in calling for law and order to be restored as riots broke out in the city this week. President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles as anti-ICE violence escalated over the weekend, prompting pushback from Democrat California Gov. Gavin Newsom. On Monday, the U.S. Northern Command announced that 700 Marines would be sent to the greater Los Angeles area to help protect federal property and agents. LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said on Tuesday his department made 197 arrests, with 130 of those occurring near Commercial and Alameda, and the other 67 occurring after protesters occupied the 101 freeway. The LAPD said it arrested 96 people overnight Monday during protests in the downtown area. Charges included assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, failure to disperse and looting and arson. One person was arrested for attempted murder with a Molotov cocktail. Trump Takes Action Against 'Orchestrated Attack' On Law Enforcement By Deploying Marines To La: Assemblyman Police have used tear gas in an attempt to disperse protesters. Numerous businesses in the Los Angeles area were also looted. Read On The Fox News App Moses Castillo, a former LAPD detective, told Fox News Digital that Bass was too late in calling for order to be restored. "She's now trying to play catch up," Castillo said. "I think if she would have been very more forceful in the beginning that we're not gonna tolerate these crimes and allow police officers to do their job and arrest people on site, I'd think it would have be different. Instead, she's now saying it now that these crimes would not be tolerated, looting would not tolerated. But it's a little bit too late." Fox News Digital reached out to Bass' office. Castillo said that he thinks both sides are using the violent protests to attack each other, something he says needs to stop. Mayor Bass Blames Trump's Ice Raids For Starting Riots While Claiming 'Things In La Are Calm' "I believe that both sides, the president, Governor Newsom, are using the media waves to attack one another," Castillo said. "To me, that's like going back to high school, really. I think they wanted to do is come to the table. Let's have a face-to-face, let's have a meeting, let's hash out the issues, and let's find solutions." "They're not united in this front," he added. Castillo recalled being an LAPD trainee during the Rodney King race riots in 1992, and said "History is repeating itself." "Here, people are upset about the immigration policies of this current White House administration and the difference also being is we're in a time where social media is instant. Images are going up there, so it's easy to get the word out and get people down to come in and create chaos," Castillo said. "History is repeating itself, and this time we're dealing with a lot of violence against police officers. They're throwing bottles of cocktails, they're throwing cinder blocks, you name it." Fox News Digital's Greg Wehner and Louis Casiano contributed to this article source: Rodney King riots officer says LA mayor acted 'too late' as anti-ICE violence engulfs city

Bryan man sentenced to 40 years for beating ex-girlfriend
Bryan man sentenced to 40 years for beating ex-girlfriend

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • Yahoo

Bryan man sentenced to 40 years for beating ex-girlfriend

BRYAN, Texas (FOX 44) – A Bryan man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for beating his ex-girlfriend. The Brazos County District Attorney's Office says 32-year-old Olajawon Agube Mason was sentenced on Friday. He received 40 years for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, plus 40 years for Assault Family Violence Strangulation with a Previous Conviction as well as ten years in prison for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. Judge Kyle Hawthorne also made affirmative findings of family violence and the use of a deadly weapon. Mason was originally sentenced to two years in prison in February 2019, after a jury trial in which he was convicted of Burglary of a Habitation. In this case, the jury heard evidence that Mason had broken into the home of his girlfriend, kicked in the door to her bathroom, and strangled her. He had no prior criminal history. The D.A.'s Office says shortly after Mason was released from prison on September 15, 2022, police responded to the same address. Officers discovered the same victim as in the previous case. This time, the victim was severely beaten and required immediate medical attention. Medical personnel and police documented severe bruising and swelling to the victim's face, bleeding from her nose and ears, and extensive evidence of strangulation. The girlfriend reported that she had lost consciousness during the assault and had little memory of what occurred. Gang member sentenced for violent burglary of habitation The D.A.'s Office says police also spoke with the 9-1-1 caller, who identified herself as the sister of the victim. This witness reported that Mason pointed a firearm at her before locking himself in the bedroom with his girlfriend. The sister reported hearing significant banging from the room and her sister screaming, but she was not able to enter. The sister snuck out of the home and called 9-1-1. The two young children of Mason and the victim were inside the home at the time of the assault. Bryan Police responded quickly to the scene and witnessed Mason fleeing the home. Despite setting up a perimeter and employing drones and canine resources, Mason managed to evade authorities. The D.A.'s Office says Mason was placed on the Brazos County Domestic Violence High Risk Team List, and also on the Most Wanted List in Brazos County. Multiple law enforcement agencies both inside and outside of the county worked to apprehend Mason while he remained a fugitive. Mason was ultimately apprehended in January 2025 by the Bryan Police Department's Direct Deployment Team. As a result of finding the deadly weapon, Mason will have to serve half his sentence before becoming eligible for parole. Both Mason's now ex-girlfriend and her sister received lifetime protective orders as part of the plea. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store