Deputy Pineda Sentenced and Barred from Law Enforcement

Former L.A. County Sheriff's deputy Remin Pineda has been placed on probation for two years without jail time after pleading no contest to two felony counts of assault in the shooting death of David Ordaz Jr., who was experiencing a mental health crisis. Pineda is required to complete 250 hours of community service, mandatory psychological counseling, and is barred from working in law enforcement or owning firearms. Ordaz's family, who protested the plea deal, expressed their anger and disappointment, describing the sentence as too lenient and a failure of the justice system. The plea agreement follows Pineda's charges of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and assault under color of authority, stemming from the 2021 incident in East L.A., where deputies responded to a 911 call from Ordaz's sister. Despite video evidence of Pineda continuing to shoot after Ordaz was disarmed, prosecutors did not find sufficient evidence to charge other deputies involved. Ordaz's family has also filed a federal civil rights lawsuit claiming unjustifiable lethal force was used.