Newsom: World’s largest wildlife crossing on track to open early '26
Duarte looking for LA County artists for utility box art program
Pg 16
Pg 02
VISIT BELMONTBEACON.COM
Thursday, May 09-May 15, 2024
Local. Relevant. Trusted.
NO. 170
LA County supervisors approve $24M for exonerated men
After pro-Palestinian encampment cleared, USC preps for graduation
By Fred Shuster, City News Service
By City News Service
U
Eduardo Dumbrique. | Photo courtesy of The National Registry of Exonerations/Facebook
W
VOL. 10,
ithout discussion, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved a $24 million payment to settle a civil rights lawsuit brought by two men who were wrongly imprisoned for more than 23 years for a murder they did not commit. John Klene, 45, and Eduardo Dumbrique, 42, were exonerated three years ago by the District Attorney's Office after nearly a decade of investigation by a nonprofit group who worked on the case. The Los Angeles men filed their federal civil rights lawsuit in 2022 against the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and District Attorney's Office arising from their arrest and conviction for the murder of Antonio Alarcon nearly 27 years ago. "I hope today provides some measure of justice for John, Eduardo, and their loved ones," LA County District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement provided to
City News Service after the board's vote. "My office has exonerated 14 people who wrongfully and collectively served more than 300 years in prison for crimes they did not commit: each exoneration represents my overriding commitment to upholding the truth in our criminal justice system." At about 11 p.m. on June 28, 1997, gang member Alarcon, 25, was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting near a pay telephone at 11650 Prairie Ave. in Hawthorne. A few days later, Santo "Payaso" Alvarez was arrested in Torrance for possession of a weapon and a hypodermic needle. Alvarez, also a gang member, offered information on the murder of Alarcon in exchange for his release. Alvarez claimed he had seen Dumbrique, then 15, and Klene, then 18, together, and heard Klene announce his intention to kill someone from Alarcon's gang. According to their lawsuit,
Klene and Dumbrique were in another city the night of the murder, at the home of Klene's parents watching the heavyweight title fight between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, with a number of witnesses present. LASD investigators, however, took the word of Alvarez, who said Klene and Dumbrique were involved in the shooting, according to the lawsuit. The investigators allegedly fabricated witness statements about Klene and Dumbrique being seen in a green vehicle used in the fatal attack, the suit alleged. On Dec. 4, 1998, a Los Angeles jury convicted Klene and Dumbrique of firstdegree murder. Both were sentenced to life in prison without parole. Their subsequent appeals were denied. In March 2012, Klene learned for the first time that another man had admitted he had murdered Alarcon. Klene reached out to Inno-
cence Matters, a Torrancebased nonprofit organization that investigates wrongful convictions. In October 2012, Klene filed a state petition for a writ of habeas corpus. On February 19, 2021, the motion to vacate was granted, the charge was dismissed, and Klene was released. The prosecution also agreed to vacate Dumbrique's conviction, and his case was dismissed. Dumbrique was released. In November 2022, Klene and Dumbrique filed the civil rights lawsuit in Los Angeles federal court alleging they were framed. The Board of Supervisors agenda for Tuesday explained the reason for the recommendation to settle the suit, saying, "Given the high risks and uncertainties of litigation, a reasonable settlement at this time will avoid further litigation costs. The full and final settlement of the case in the amount of $24 million is recommended."
SC was preparing for graduation ceremonies Tuesday after a pro-Palestinian encampment was cleared by officers with the Los Angeles Police Department and the university's Department of Public Safety, ending a highprofile demonstration that began in April. USC announced Monday that "the University Park Campus is now open to students, faculty, staff, registered guests and known vendors with confirmation of work." The university's various commencement ceremonies — minus the traditional main stage ceremony that was previously canceled — began Wednesday and will continue through Saturday at various locations around campus. Commencement season has been a bit of a roller-coaster for USC students, given the various protests that have occurred on campus and the establishment of an encampment that was cleared by police early Sunday morning. "This morning DPS, with the assistance of the LAPD, removed the occupiers who had rebuilt their illegal encampment in Alumni Park. The operation was peaceful. Campus is opening, students are returning to prepare for finals, and commencement set-up is in full swing," USC President Carol Folt said in a statement released around midday Sunday. "Over the last few weeks, the university exercised patience and restraint as we worked to de-escalate a volatile situation. We've spoken to the occupiers daily, issued repeated warnings, and offered opportunities and locations for them to protest lawfully. We've supported their right to express strong opinions and passions for their cause, as always," she continued. "Yet when free speech protests devolve into illegal occupations, violating the rights of others, we must draw a line. ... We are in the critical period from the end-of-term quiet study week, through finals and our commencement ceremonies. "Despite our efforts to de-escalate, the occupation was spiraling in a dangerous direction over the last several days. Areas of campus were blocked, people walking down Trousdale, our main thoroughfare, were harassed, and iconic Trojan symbols were defaced. In addition, university property was stolen, and commencement structures were dismantled. Residence halls, campus throughfares, and libraries had become places of confrontation. Some finals were disrupted with noise and chanting during mandated quiet periods. Yesterday afternoon, outside agitators jumped the perimeter fencing and assaulted our officers. "This had to stop. With no resolution in sight, I requested the LAPD to assist DPS in removing the encampment as peacefully and safely as possible. At 4:10 a.m., an order to disperse was issued, providing the trespassers one last opportunity to leave voluntarily. In 64 minutes, the encampment was abandoned and cleared. The operation was peaceful with no arrests. We will not tolerate illegal encampments of any kind at USC." See USC graduation Page 31