Los Angeles, CA – Heather Barron and Kareem Leiva, convicted in the brutal 2018 torture and murder of 10-year-old Anthony Avalos, have been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole (LWOP), a decision that reflects a significant shift in the Los Angeles County District Attorney's approach to capital punishment. The sentencing concludes a harrowing legal battle for Anthony's family, who have endured years of court proceedings and policy changes.
Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Hatami, who prosecuted the case, expressed his strong support for Anthony's family and his commitment to ensuring the perpetrators remain incarcerated. "I imagine Anthony, who would have been 17-years-old today, would be a nice young handsome man looking forward to making his mark on the world in a good way," Hatami stated in a recent social media post. He further emphasized the emotional burden on victims' families, noting, "Most of our politicians just don’t understand how stressful all the appeals are to a victims’ family and friends."
Barron and Leiva were found guilty of first-degree murder with the special circumstance of torture. Anthony Avalos died on June 21, 2018, after suffering extensive abuse, including beatings, forced starvation, and being subjected to extreme physical torture. The court heard graphic details of the abuse, which included whipping with a belt, being dropped on his head, and having hot sauce poured on his face and mouth.
Under former District Attorney Jackie Lacey, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office had initially sought the death penalty for both Barron and Leiva, following a rigorous special circumstance committee process. However, upon taking office in December 2020, current District Attorney George Gascón implemented sweeping policy changes that ended the pursuit of capital punishment in new cases and mandated a review of existing death penalty judgments.
This directive led to the Avalos case being reclassified from a potential death penalty case to one seeking life without parole. Hatami critically noted this change, stating that Gascón, "under no process at all, made it an LWOP case." He reiterated his belief that for such heinous crimes, "the punishment should be death or Life Without the Possibility of Parole (LWOP). Period. And LWOP should mean LWOP in these type of cases."
The case garnered significant public attention, not only due to the horrific nature of the crime but also because of multiple prior reports of abuse to the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) that failed to prevent Anthony's death. A $32 million settlement was reached with Los Angeles County in 2022 over allegations of negligence by social workers.
Hatami concluded his statement by affirming his dedication to justice for Anthony: "I will continue to support Anthony’s family and will continue to do whatever I can to make sure Leiva and Barron die in prison. And that’s not vengeance. I take my job very serious. It’s justice. No human being should ever intentionally torture and murder a child. When they do, it’s up to us as a society to make sure justice is served." He urged continued prayers for Anthony's family and friends, highlighting the enduring pain caused by such a profound loss.