Man Who Broke Into L.A. Mayor’s Home to Receive Probation, Mandatory Drug Treatment

Ephraim Hunter, the man who broke into the home of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass in April, avoided jail time in his his plea deal on Wednesday, instead receiving  two years of probation, three months of drug abuse and mental health treatment, and paying $15,000 in fines and restitution to the city.

According to the LAPD, 29-year-old Ephraim Hunter broke in the Mayor’s official residence, Getty House, at around 6:40 A.M on April 21st. Bass, as well as several family members, were inside when Hunter broke the window. Going in, he made it to the second floor, causing Bass to hide in a designated area for such events. However, by this time, the LAPD arrived and proceeded to arrest Hunter.

Hunter was quickly booked for suspicion of burglary, with more charges likely. Police also found out that Hunter had previously been booked for 7 years back in 2015 outside of Boston for taking a man with a group of other people and proceeding to beat him with a hammer. DA George Gascon later clarified that Hunter knew that it was the Mayor’s House and was looking for Bass.

In the the months following the incident, Prosecutors began to work out a plea deal. Hunter himself also clarified that he didn’t know that Getty House was the Mayor’s house and that he had been on a 5 day meth binge and was looking for a place to hide. He also said that he was actually not targeting the Mayor at all.

While initially charged with felony vandalism and first-degree residential burglary, the burglary charge was later dropped. As it was dropped, a plea deal formed. On Wednesday, Hunter pleaded no contest to the vandalism charge, while also admitting to having a prior conviction and prison sentence related to the incident in Massachusetts. While he avoids jail time, Hunter will be on two years probation and will undergo at least three months of drug abuse and mental health treatment, and will pay more than $15,000 to the city. In addition, Hunter cannot be near Mayor Bass, Getty House, or Los Angeles City Hall for at least 3 years. If he violates any part of his deal, Hunter will then be sent to prison for up to three years.

Despite either a deal or guilty verdict being expected, many in Los Angeles were upset that Hunter would not be receiving jail time for his actions, especially since other recent break-ins of political figures in California led to severe injuries, such as the Paul Pelosi attack in late 2022. Legal and security experts told the Globe on Wednesday that jail time was still in the cards, especially since Hunter needs to not violate the deal for the next three years.

“The main reason why it wasn’t straight jail time is that the burglary charge was dropped. All they had to go on was the misdemeanor,” explained Frank Ma, a former policeman and security consultant in San Francisco, to the Globe. “It’s still a lot for a misdemeanor, but he did break into the Mayor’s House. Most other places that would be automatic jail time, or at the very least, more stiffer penalties.

“A lot of people are upset he didn’t get more. He’s being given a big chance to get clean after this, especially with all that mandatory treatment. He better make the most of it.”

Hunter’s probation is to end in 2026, with his barring from being near the Mayoral locations ending in 2027.