LA County Prosecutor Warns Against Use Of Illegal Fireworks Ahead Of 4th Of July

LOS ANGELES, CA — Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman issued a warning Monday afternoon: "If you set off explosives in our neighborhoods, injure our residents, damage our homes, and terrorize our communities, we will come after you with the full weight of the law."

The announcement comes ahead of the Fourth of July holiday, with the prosecutor citing several cases his department is currently trying that involved defendants who possessed or used illegal fireworks.

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Amongst the defendants is Joshua Alvarez, a 26-year-old facing charges for setting off illegal fireworks at a crowd and police during the Dodgers' World Series celebration last fall.

While out on bond, Alvarez, according to prosecutors, modified several fireworks and lit them in a residential neighborhood in Inglewood.

The blast shattered windows in nearby apartment buildings and damaged multiple vehicles, according to prosecutors, who said one of the explosives tore through a woman's bedroom window and caused lacerations on her face.

He has since been charged with one felony count each of explosion of a destructive device causing bodily injury, possession of the ingredients to make a destructive device, possession of a destructive device on a public street and two felony counts of vandalism $400 or more in damage or destruction of property. If convicted, he could be sentenced up to 35 years in prison, according to prosecutors.

Most recently, Alexis Duran, 25, of El Monte was arrested and charged with one felony count of carrying a loaded handgun on one’s person or in a vehicle not registered; and one misdemeanor count each of possession of fireworks without a valid permit and violation of pyrotechnic devices

Prosecutors say police found Duran in a La Puente parking lot with roughly 50 pounds of illegal fireworks. If convicted of the charges, he faces up to five years in county jail and a fine of $1,000.

“I’m grateful to the prosecutors in our Target Crimes Division and deputy district attorneys throughout our office, as well as our law enforcement partners, who are working diligently to eliminate the use of illegal and destructive fireworks in our communities,” District Attorney Hochman said.