DA Investigating False Sex Abuse Allegations in Los Angeles County

In a major development, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday it has launched an investigation into potentially fraudulent sexual abuse claims filed amid record-breaking settlements approved by the county earlier this year.

Los Angeles County recently agreed to pay over $4.8 billion to more than 11,000 people who alleged they suffered childhood sexual abuse while under county care, particularly at Probation Department facilities and the now-closed MacLaren Children’s Center. The settlement, believed to be among the largest sexual abuse settlements in American history, has now come under scrutiny as officials suspect some claims may be fabricated.

District Attorney Nathan Hochman said his office is “aggressively going after” individuals who submitted fake claims or were recruited to pose as plaintiffs. “These fraudsters come in a variety of different ways,” Hochman explained during Wednesday’s news conference. “These can be individual claimants that never suffered sexual abuse at any point at the hands of Los Angeles County, but they looked at this potential settlement as a way to get some free money.”

The Los Angeles Times previously reported that some plaintiffs in the $4 billion settlement were allegedly paid by vendors to sue the county, with at least two cases involving fabricated claims. According to the newspaper’s investigation, an LA law firm reportedly paid people to file false claims in some instances.

In an unusual move, Hochman offered a form of amnesty to individuals who were drawn into these alleged fraud schemes, promising that “we will not use your words against you in any criminal prosecution” if they come forward voluntarily.

The massive settlements followed the passage of California Assembly Bill 218, which temporarily lifted the statute of limitations on childhood sexual abuse allegations. This legislative change opened the door for thousands of previously time-barred claims against various institutions, including county facilities.

Hochman criticized the state legislature for not anticipating the financial burden the law would place on local governments. “When the state of California passed this, it provided zero dollars – zero dollars to pay for what they knew would be billions and billions and billions of dollars of compensation that were now going to be faced by every county, city and school district,” he said.

When the settlements were initially reached, LA County Counsel Dawyn Harrison acknowledged the potential vulnerability to fraud and committed to thoroughly examining each claim. The current investigation appears to be fulfilling that pledge, as officials work to separate legitimate claims from potentially fraudulent ones.

The MacLaren Children’s Center, which features prominently in many claims, operated as a residential care facility for children until its closure in 2003. The facility, along with various Probation Department sites, allegedly became places where vulnerable children suffered abuse while under county supervision.

According to Hochman, the total number of claims could potentially rise beyond 14,000, potentially costing the county billions more in additional settlements. The district attorney urged anyone with information about false claims to report it to authorities.

The investigation highlights the complex challenges facing government entities as they attempt to provide justice for legitimate abuse survivors while preventing fraud in high-value settlement cases. For Los Angeles County, which already faces significant budget constraints, ensuring that compensation reaches actual victims rather than opportunistic fraudsters has become a critical priority.