Three Skinheads Are Sentenced

Los Angeles Times/June 9, 2001
By Martha L. Willman

Two teenage members of a reputed white supremacist gang accused of terrorizing a Canyon Country neighborhood were assigned to juvenile camps this week while a third was placed on probation and released to his parents. A fourth teen, David Eugene Lampman, 18, the only adult arrested in a police sweep last month, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing July 9 in Newhall Superior Court.

Detectives, who are continuing their investigation, said as many as 10 more arrests are expected in the case.

During a six-month probe, detectives said residents of the Flowerpark neighborhood of Canyon Country--where the youths live--complained of a siege of incidents occurring over the last year. Groups of teens dressed as "skinheads" burglarized hundreds of cars, set off dozens of small explosives and firebombs, vandalized parks and committed several crimes of a racially biased nature, prosecutors said.

The reports caught Santa Clarita officials by surprise, including local sheriff's deputies, who said they were unaware of a crime spree. Many victims reportedly never filed complaints, investigators said.

All of the youths arrested May 16 were dressed in "skinhead" style and white supremacist materials were seized during searches of homes, according to detectives and the hate-crimes prosecutor, Olivia Rosales, a Los Angeles County deputy district attorney.

The three juveniles were sentenced this week by Commissioner Jack Gold following hearings at Sylmar Juvenile Hall. Each of the three accepted plea bargains, agreeing to admit to lesser charges than those originally filed against them.

A 17-year-old accused of the most serious hate crimes--including three alleged attacks on minorities--admitted Friday, in a plea bargain, to stalking, participating in a hate crime in concert with others and making a terrorist threat. He was sentenced to juvenile camp.

Another 17-year-old admitted to possession of a destructive device and vehicle burglary and was also sent to camp.

A 16-year-old who admitted to a terrorist threat was placed on probation. All three of the youths were ordered to disassociate from one another, sever connections with supremacist groups, undergo counseling and stop wearing "skinhead" attire.