19 Aug Hochman Demands Gascon File Gang, Gun Enhancements Against Suspects in Killing of Actor Johnny Wactor
LOS ANGELES / August 19, 2024 – District Attorney candidate Nathan Hochman today demanded that D.A. George Gascon file gang and gun enhancements against the gang members arrested in the murder of former “General Hospital” actor Johnny Wactor.
The suspects implicated in the actor’s killing are members of Florencia 13, one of the most violent and notorious gangs in Southern California, police said.
Wactor was shot at close range and killed downtown early on the morning of May 25 after interrupting a group of men attempting to steal the catalytic converter from his car. The suspects arrested last week were part of a crew of Florencia 13 members tied to catalytic converter thefts in the region, police said.
Hochman, a former federal prosecutor and Assistant U.S. Attorney General, said information supplied to him about the evidence in the case supports the filing of gang enhancements (PC 186.22) and the “big gun” enhancement (PC 12022.53), in addition to other appropriate charges.
Gascon is scheduled to announce the filing of charges today against four suspects arrested in the case. By policy, Gascon prohibits prosecutors from filing gang enhancements in any case, and only allows the PC 12022.53 gun enhancement to be filed with his advance special approval.
Each of the suspects arrested in the case had violent criminal records, but they had been released after each case without serious consequences. Predictably, they continued to victimize the community, culminating in the death of a young man who had his whole life ahead of him, Hochman said.
The suspects criminal histories included prior arrests for assault with a deadly weapon, assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, assault causing great bodily injury, robbery and burglary. One of the suspects had the letter “F” tattooed on his face, evidence of his loyalty to Florencia 13, according to law enforcement.
“For too long now, the D.A.’s Office has been led by a man who bases his charging decisions on an extreme political ideology instead of the facts and the law, protecting the public and standing up for victims,” Hochman said. “Johnny Wactor was a good, kind and hard-working man who died simply because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time – George Gascon’s lawless Los Angeles County after dark.”
“I demand that Gascon file all appropriate charges in this case, just as he should in every case his office reviews.”
Hochman will attend a rally with Wactor’s supporters at 9 a.m. today outside the criminal courthouse to urge Gascon to file the appropriate charges.
About Nathan Hochman:
Nathan Hochman, a former federal prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney General, President of the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission and defense attorney, is running to defeat George Gascon and become the next District Attorney of Los Angeles County. He is an Independent (No Party Preference) candidate who believes politics has no place in the D.A.’s Office. He has bipartisan support and is endorsed by the Los Angeles County Police Chiefs’ Association, the Association of Deputy District Attorneys, former District Attorney Jackie Lacey, a coalition of first responders, more than 70 elected officials and dozens of civic and business leaders. For more information about Hochman and his campaign, please visit www.NathanHochman.com.
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