A Los Angeles man accused of shutting down a stretch of the 110 Freeway to film a music video during rush hour last year has been charged with multiple felonies, prosecutors said.
Eduardo Erik Martínez, 31, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to one felony count of conspiracy to commit exhibition of speed and two counts of felony vandalism, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors allege Martinez orchestrated the shutdown on Nov. 22, 2023, by having several vehicles block the northbound lanes of the freeway near the 9th Street off-ramp.
During this shutdown, Martinez allegedly filmed a music video while drivers performed donuts around him, prosecutors said.
“This was incredibly reckless behavior, all in search of a ‘viral moment’ on social media,” District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said in a statement. “If you choose to treat our streets like your own personal playground, you will find yourself in a criminal courtroom.”
Martínez is also charged with vandalizing a bench in Department 40 of the same courthouse on Oct. 21 while in court for an unrelated matter.
If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum of four years and four months in jail.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP), along with the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, is investigating Martinez’s case.
Martinez is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 11 to set a preliminary hearing date. His bail was set at $100,000 in the case filed in September.
Source: NBC Los Angeles