Maxxy Lopez was 12 years old when she witnessed her mother and stepbrother strangle her father to death. For years afterward, Heidi threatened Maxxy to keep her silent.
On Father’s Day 2022, then 20-year-old Maxxy bravely told authorities what she witnessed and fully cooperated with the investigation, testifying at both the preliminary hearing and trial while her mother and brother glared at her from counsel table.
Maxxy's bravery enabled her father’s family to finally have closure about the death of her father and secured the convictions for special circumstance murder. Both received life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Daniel Edwards witnessed a deadly mobile home arson and helped authorities track down the suspect. He shouted, called 911 and chased the suspect through dark alleys, updating police on his location. Daniel waited for officers and later identified the arsonist in court.
Daniel’s quick action and courage helped secure the arsonist’s conviction and 11-year state prison sentence for voluntary manslaughter.
These extraordinary individuals were honored this week by Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman at LADA’s Courage Awards, which are given to individuals who demonstrate exceptional bravery and selflessness — whether by assisting in criminal prosecutions, helping victims, testifying under pressure, preventing crimes or helping to apprehend suspects.
The awards were presented by District Attorney Hochman and Deputy District Attorneys Joy Roberts, Richard Gallegly and Paul Thompson in a ceremony hosted by the Rotary Club of Long Beach.
“These honorees didn’t just witness horrific acts — they chose to selflessly act when it mattered most,” District Attorney Hochman said. “They stepped forward despite fear, despite pressure, and because of that, justice was possible. Their courage sends a powerful message that no matter how difficult or dangerous, doing the right thing can change lives and protect our communities.”
#LADAOffice #DANathanHochman #Courage #Criminaljustice #bravery
We mark one year of renewed effort to rebuild and restore trust in the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
One year ago, community members gathered to welcome our 44th Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman.
On day one, DA Hochman committed implementing his Hard Middle Approach—a proportional system of accountability that considers the facts, the law, and prioritizing victims.
Under his leadership, LADA has taken meaningful steps forward, including:
✅ Prosecuted major cases
✅ Disrupted organized crime rings
✅ Confronted retail theft and street racing
✅ Tackled copper and cargo theft
✅ Reduced the case backlog
✅ Supported exonerations where appropriate
✅ Expanded resources for victims
Beyond the courtroom, this office has shown up in our communities—building partnerships, restoring trust, and strengthening the relationship between law enforcement and the public.
We have made real progress, but there is more work ahead. There is more to do, more people to protect, and more trust to build—and we will do it together.
Click the link in our bio to read more about DA Hochman’s first year in office.
#Anniversary #OneYearDown #Justice #Safe #Safety #PublicSafety #LACounty #LADA #LADAOffice #NathanHochman #DAHochman #DistrictAttorney #DistrictAttorneyNathanHochman
In Case You Missed It …
Last week, three brave individuals were recognized for their efforts in bringing justice as part of the Courage Awards.
As a child, Jocelyn Ebert endured the unthinkable. She suffered repeated sexual abuse at the hands of a predator. Years later, when another young girl said she was sexually assaulted by the same man, Jocelyn, now an adult, walked into a courtroom, faced her attacker and provided vital testimony that led to a conviction and a 25 years-to-life sentence.
What she carried – and what she chose to do with that – is nothing short of remarkable and inspirational. She is a survivor and to all those who have experienced similar abuse, your voice carries the utmost significance. At the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, we are here to support you every step of the way.
Thank you to Jocelyn and the other recipients for playing a pivotal role in securing justice and to @covina.rotary for hosting the awards ceremony.
#CourageAwards #Survivor #LADAOffice #DANathanHochman #DAHochman
During Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we celebrate Deputy District Attorney Irene Lee who joined the Office in 2008 and is currently serving as a Special Assistant to Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman. As a Special Assistant, DDA Lee is an integral part of the Office’s hiring process and works on several special projects for the District Attorney, including outreach to underserved communities. She has spearheaded fentanyl and fraud awareness campaigns in Chinese, Korean and Spanish. She also currently serves as the board liaison for the Office’s AAPI Advisory Board.
DDA Lee began her career as a deputy district attorney after clerking in the Organized Crime Division. She specialized in prosecuting domestic violence and child abuse cases. DDA Lee has been recognized as Prosecutor of the Month and Deputy District Attorney of the Month. DDA Lee is also a facilitator with the Office’s law-related education program, Project LEAD, which teaches fifth graders about the criminal justice system. Prior to joining LADA, DDA Lee served in the dependency court system and served as legal advisor with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s and Los Angeles County Fire departments.
DDA Lee graduated from University of California, San Diego and earned her law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law.
We appreciate DDA Lee’s dedicated service, including her steadfast commitment to partnering with the Asian community and media to advance awareness of the District Attorney’s Office initiatives and strengthen outreach across the communities it serves.
#publicservice #AAPI #AAPIMonth #AAPIHeritage #AAPIHeritageMonth #LADAOffice
More than two dozen members of the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office gave their time and energy to make a real difference in our community last weekend as part of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank's annual Food From the Bar campaign, an annual, month-long fundraising campaign that unites the legal community in the fight against hunger. Since launching in 2009, the campaign has raised over $3.6 million, and we were honored to do our part!
Our volunteers assembled more than 1,000 LA County Kits for families impacted by the government shutdown, prepared nearly 5,500 food packages for community resource centers and packaged more than 50,000 pounds of bell peppers for families in need. As of today, the campaign is a hair shy of its $500,000 goal.
Together, we are proud to serve not just in the courtroom but in the community.
#FoodFromTheBar #VolunteerDay #LADAOffice #DAHochman #LosAngelesRegionalFoodBank
During Mental Health Awareness Month, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office highlights the collaborative work assisting veterans who have found themselves on the wrong side of the law.
Veterans comprise almost 10% of the incarcerate population in the United States and a large majority of those individuals have a mental health or substance use disorder, resulting in a 60% higher suicide rate than the general population.
Due to the recognized need to support those who have given so much in the service of our country, the District Attorney’s Office actively works with partners throughout the criminal justice system to provide rehabilitative services to our men and women of the armed forces.
These enhanced services, through the Department of Veterans Affairs, includes medical and mental health services, residential rehabilitation and recovery treatment, permanent or bridge housing and employment and educational opportunities.
Currently, there are five locations in courthouses throughout Los Angeles County that participate in Veterans Court, providing diversion opportunities in lieu of criminal prosecution for select cases.
After two years of successful rehabilitation, participating veterans are eligible to have their criminal matters dismissed if they complete the terms of their agreed upon diversion.
The District Attorney’s Office is actively working on expansion of the Veterans Courts in hopes of providing more services to this underserved population.
#VeteransCourt #Veterans #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #LADAOffice #DANathanHochman
During Jewish American Heritage Month, we celebrate Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Katz who joined the Office in 1990. During his time at LADA, he has been assigned to trial and calendar positions throughout Los Angeles County, from the Norwalk Branch Office to Central Operations to the Sex Crimes Division. He has filed thousands of criminal cases and prosecuted many more, including 83 jury trials, numerous violent sex crimes, other aggravated felonies and special circumstance murder cases.
Chief Deputy Katz also served as Head Deputy of the Parole, Writs and Appeals and Public Integrity divisions, including the Airport Branch Office.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Steve Katz graduated from University of California, Berkeley, and received his law degree from UCLA School of Law.
Thank you, Chief Deputy Katz for your unwavering dedication to justice and public safety in Los Angeles County!
#publicservice #JewishHeritage #JewishHeritageMonth #DAHochman #LADAOffice
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office solemnly honors the men and women in law enforcement during National Police Week who dedicate their lives to protecting and serving our communities. We recognize the immense courage it takes to put on a badge each day, knowing the risks that come with it. We also remember and pay tribute to those officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, their bravery and commitment to justice will never be forgotten.
As we pursue justice in our courts, we are reminded that our work is only possible because of the tireless efforts of the law enforcement officers who stand on the front lines. We remain steadfast in our commitment to working alongside them to ensure safer communities for all.
#NationalPoliceWeek #LawEnforcement #LADAOffice #DANathanHochman
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office wishes mothers everywhere a Happy Mother’s Day. May today be a celebration of your dedication, resilience and compassion and a much-needed day of rest and relaxation.
You have shaped our families and communities for the better with your unconditional love and guidance.
To all who nurture, protect and uplift others every day, we honor you today and always.
Happy Mother’s Day!
#MothersDay #LADAOffice #DANathanHochman
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman recognized three individuals with Courage Awards for their exceptional bravery, strength and resolve in the face of significant adversity and for the vital role they played in advancing justice.
The honorees include a woman who endured repeated sexual abuse as a child and later testified against her abuser, who had abused another child, leading to his conviction; a woman who stepped in to stop the sexual assault of her friend and then delivered powerful testimony against the defendant; and a third woman who witnessed a gang shooting that killed four people and showed remarkable bravery in facing the defendants in court to testify in the case.
Read the full news release in the link in our bio.
#CourageAwards #SurvivorsOfCourage #JusticeForAll #LACountyDA
General Motors, LLC will pay $12.75 million to resolve a civil lawsuit alleging that from 2020-2024, General Motors unlawfully sold hundreds of thousands of OnStar subscribers’ personal information and driving data to third party data brokers in violation of California’s privacy, false advertising and unfair competition laws.
The lawsuit, filed by the California Attorney General and the District Attorneys of Los Angeles, Napa, San Francisco and Sonoma counties with support from the California Privacy Protection Agency, alleges that from 2016 to 2024, General Motors collected and kept driver- and driving-related data from hundreds of thousands of Californians who had subscribed to OnStar, a vehicle connectivity service offered by General Motors. This data included names, phone numbers, home addresses, speeds, rapid acceleration, and hard braking, as well as the GPS location of where OnStar subscribers drove and parked their vehicles.
Californians can now send one request to more than 550 registered data brokers to delete their personal data by using a new, easy-to-use online tool.
Read the full news release at the link in our bio.
#DataPrivacy #GMOnStar #ConsumerProtection #KnowYourRights
During Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, we salute Director Hoon Chun who oversees the Bureau of Fraud and Corruption Prosecutions, which handles the prosecution of significant fraud, organized crime, public corruption, elder abuse, environmental, consumer protection and workplace death cases.
Director Chun has spent more than 30 years with the Office, where nearly half of his time was as a trial prosecutor with the Major Crimes and Gang Homicide divisions. He later went on to become Head Deputy District Attorney of the Consumer Protection Division.
Thank you to Director Chun for his decades-long service to justice in Los Angeles County!
#publicservice #AAPI #AAPIMonth #AAPIHeritage #AAPIHeritageMonth #LADAOffice
