The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has charged a former University of La Verne student, who is allegedly behind a series of reported threats against members of a student group in February 2019, on felony counts of criminal threats and perjury by declaration as well as six misdemeanor counts of false report of a criminal offense and one misdemeanor count of internet/electronic impersonation.
She allegedly stoked the flames of a hate crime that escalated to the point of classes being canceled on campus last year. The accused, Anayeli Dominguez Peña, is also being investigated by the La Verne Police Department for a backpack emitting smoke left inside an unlocked vehicle in a dormitory parking lot.
According to arrest reports obtained here, Pena sent threats directed at the university’s student activist group ‘Decolonize ULV’, as well as herself via email and text. Prosecutors also allege that the defendant then proceeded to report the false threats to the police and applied for victim compensation from the California Victim Compensation Board.
Peña, who is scheduled to appear in a Superior Court, faces up to eight years in state prison if convicted on all charges.
Meanwhile, The Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva has decided to release over 4,200 nonviolent inmates from the county jail. The decision, he implied, was not taken lightly but was important to prevent the spread of the deadly COVID-19. Nonetheless, the sheriff says that he is still concerned about a potential surge in crime but has taken preventive measures.
“We were faced with a choice, if we left the jail system fully populated and overpopulated, then the pandemic is a lot easier to sweep through the jail system and jeopardize everyone’s safety,” said Villanueva.
The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department has been releasing nonviolent criminals in pre-trial detention or those who were about to finish their sentences within 30 to 60 days since late February. More violent inmates will remain locked up behind bars.
Law enforcement patrols and activities have also been strengthened by additional 1300 deputies who are working round-the-clock to thwart any effort by criminals to take advantage of the situation as all civil and criminal trials in the County have also been suspended by judicial order.
Photo credit: Bill Oxford
