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New Police Report Alleges Sexual Abuse Possibly Tied to Avalos Case

The chilling revelation came as the grand jury transcript was unsealed Monday.

A new police report introduced by the prosecution revealed possible sexual abuse tied to the torture death of a 10-year-old Lancaster boy who succumbed to his injuries June 21. 

The chilling revelation came as the grand jury transcript was unsealed Monday, which unveiled alleged weeks of torture. 

Heather Maxine Barron, 29, and her boyfriend Kareem Ernesto Leiva, 32, had pleaded not guilty to killing and torturing Anthony Avalos before his death. 

Anthony Avalos was repeatedly dropped on his head, slammed into furniture, whipped with a belt and a cord, had hot sauce poured in his mouth, was starved, and was not allowed to use a bathroom, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said in an evidentiary motion obtained by NBC4.

Prosecutors allege his younger siblings were forced to watch and participate in the beatings.

The details of the two-page police report introduced Monday were not made available to the court, however Deputy District Attorney Jon Hatami told the judge the sexual abuse allegation in the report would be relevant to the trial. It was not immediately clear if the alleged sexual abuse victim was Avalos, or one of his siblings. 

Leiva's attorney told NBC4 the report does not support any allegations against his client.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Kathleen Kennedy also ordered the grand jury transcript unsealed Monday after hearing from attorneys on both sides. 

Leiva's attorney, Dan Chambers, argued unsealing the transcript could hamper his client's right to a fair trial. 

"It's been a long time that we have been waiting. It's been a hard seven months for our family," David Barron, Anthony's father, said. "To be honest we may never know why, but at least we will know what happened." 

"This is a matter in which there is a high public interest,'' Kennedy said of the Avalos case, noting that it has led to scrutiny of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. "The press is the eyes of the public and the public has a right to know.''

Thousands of pages of documents, said to include medical record and photos from the crime scene, were unsealed Monday while some injury photos and videos were left sealed. 

The unsealed transcript also includes testimony from 7-year-old Rafael, Anthony’s brother. In body camera video obtained by NBC4, a deputy responded to the home in April. Rafael is seen in the footage at the family home as Barron explains to the deputy that the boys' alleged bruises were because they were fighting like brothers.

But in grand jury testimony, Rafael says he was forced to wrestle his brother until he hurt him. Documents indicate Anthony’s mother and boyfriend were in the room at times.

As NBC4 first reported in October, prosecutors amended their indictment accusing Anthony's mother and Leiva of also abusing Rafael.

"We want to make sure that the truth comes out. We want to know what happens and get justice for Anthony," David Barron said outside the court.

Los Angeles Times attorney Jean-Paul Jassy, arguing on behalf of the newspaper, said all exhibits should be open, after it was revealed some evidence would remain sealed. 

In a previous report, the I-Team obtained the DA's evidentiary motions, which detailed the injuries paramedics and nurses found when Avalos was brought to Antelope Valley Hospital.

He was: "in full cardiac arrest; suffered reddened eyes; suffered an abrasion on the bridge of his nose; suffered large scabbed abrasions on both of his knees; was intubated because he could not breathe on his own; suffered a bruise on his right shoulder; suffered a bruise and cut on his left hip area; suffered bruises and abrasions on both legs; suffered bruises, abrasions, and cuts on his back; suffered bruises and abrasions on buttocks; suffered bruises and abrasions on his right arm and elbow; suffered an abrasion on his left side of his stomach, had red dots on the side of his stomach; suffered a bruise to his right hip; suffered bruises on his left ankle; suffered bruises on his right foot; suffered bruises and abrasions on his forehead, nose, mouth, in between eyes and right cheek; suffered a pink scabbing abrasion on his neck; and had a brain bleed. Anthony also suffered a traumatic brain injury."

According to the prosecutor, Avalos was named as the victim in multiple child abuse reports that date back to 2013.

Copyright CNS - City News Service
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