A Lincoln Heights man was sentenced Monday, Aug. 3 to three years and one month behind bars for pouring lighter fluid onto a burning California Highway Patrol vehicle and helping throw an electric scooter over a freeway overpass near officers during an unruly anti-immigration enforcement protest in downtown Los Angeles last year.
Yachua Mauricio Flores, 23, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John F. Walter, who also ordered him to pay $253,415 in restitution.
Flores had pleaded guilty to one federal count of obstructing, impeding, and interfering with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder.
On the evening of June 8, 2025, Flores participated in a riot on the Main Street overpass of the 101 Freeway when law enforcement officers were trapped below as protesters threw rocks, chunks of concrete, scooters, street signs, fireworks, and lighted debris at them, according to his plea agreement.
Flores poured lighter fluid from a plastic water bottle onto a burning CHP vehicle, causing the flames to intensify, prosecutors said. He then directed another person who lit a liquid substance on fire and poured the flaming liquid onto the same CHP vehicle.
Immediately afterward, Flores poured lighter fluid from a second bottle onto the burning vehicle. Minutes later, Flores, along with another person, threw an electric scooter over the overpass railing near CHP vehicles and officers below, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Flores admitted in his plea agreement that he knew the officers were under the freeway overpass and that he knew that throwing objects and burning debris created a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury to the officers.
“Violent attacks on law enforcement will result in federal prison time,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement on Monday. “Those who escalate chaos and endanger officers will be held accountable.”