A 29-year-old man accused of breaking into Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’s residence, forcing her to flee to a secure room, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a felony vandalism charge, with prosecutors dismissing a more serious burglary charge.
Ephraim Hunter was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Armenui Amy Ashvanian ordered Hunter to undergo drug treatment and to stay away from Bass, the mayor’s residence and Los Angeles City Hall for three years.
The incident in the early hours of April exposed security lapses at Getty House, the mayor’s official residence in Windsor Square, and raised questions about whether Hunter had intentionally targeted Bass. Hunter’s family has insisted that he was apparently in a drug-induced psychosis on April 21, unaware of his whereabouts and not there to take anything.
Bass spokesman Zach Seidl declined to comment on the plea deal.
Deputy Public Defender Howard Stern, who represented Hunter, said his client was “pleased” with the resolution of the case.
“He looks forward to working hard to recover, turning his life around and becoming a success story,” Stern said in an email.
Hunter was initially charged with first-degree burglary and vandalism, both felonies that carry a maximum sentence of 13 years and four months in prison. As part of his plea deal, he also admitted to a 2016 armed robbery conviction in Massachusetts.
Days after Hunter’s April 21 arrest, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón told reporters that he believed Hunter had specifically targeted Bass, who lives in the home with her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren.
At Wednesday’s hearing, Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Chung told the judge that Hunter’s first-degree burglary charge would be dismissed because prosecutors couldn’t prove intent. Chung acknowledged that bus video showed Hunter “acting erratically” before breaking into Bass’s home.
Acting Los Angeles Police Chief Dominic Choi confirmed in April that no department personnel were at the scene when Hunter broke a glass door and entered the home, leaving a trail of blood behind him. Officers arrived at the home and arrested Hunter after Bass went to a secure room on the premises.
An LAPD source, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter, previously told the Times that the department has since begun maintaining a visible 24-hour presence in the area.
According to police and prosecutors, Hunter broke into the mayor’s residence around 6:40 a.m., while Bass and several family members were home. According to police sources, Hunter went to the second floor and at some point encountered Stax, the mayor’s German shepherd. No one was injured and nothing was stolen.
Law enforcement sources told the Times that Hunter called Bass by his first name after entering the residence. Hunter gave a different version, telling KNX that he called his brother’s first name, Aaron.
In the KNX interview, Hunter said he was high on methamphetamine and thought someone was after him. He denied targeting the mayor, saying he had no interest in politics and was barred from voting because of prior criminal convictions.
This is the second burglary in a series of two that have occurred at Bass’ home in recent years. In 2022, two men burglarized Bass’ home in Baldwin Vista, stealing two firearms. Both were sentenced to prison last year.
Court documents show that Hunter had a prior conviction for assault with a deadly weapon in Massachusetts and served seven years in prison. Hunter claimed he was present during the assault but did not participate, a relative told the Times.
A woman who identified herself as Hunter’s mother previously told the Times that he suffered from drug addiction and may have been hallucinating during the burglary.
Josephine Duah described her son as a “very kind and loving person” whose life had been turned upside down by drug use and his time in prison. She repeatedly said her son had no idea he had entered the mayor’s house.
