Yahoo Finance Skateboarding star, future Olympian Nyjah Huston charged for hosting party during COVID-19
Skateboarding star and X Games champion Nyjah Huston was charged with organizing a party in Los Angeles during the COVID-19 pandemic on Friday, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Huston, a four-time world champion, and Edward Essa allegedly threw a party at Essa’s home in the Fairfax District in Los Angeles last month. At least 40 people were in attendance, and the event was shut down by police after a complaint was made. The home had hosted at least two other parties late last year.
Both Huston and Essa were charged with creating a nuisance, a misdemeanor in California.
The parties are in clear violation of local coronavirus restrictions on gatherings, something city authorities have been battling throughout the pandemic. The city charged three others as well on Friday for hosting separate parties, including a New Year’s Eve event with 150 guests and another in a “Fairfax nightspot.”
The city has even cut power and other utilities to homes throughout Los Angeles that were caught hosting parties during the pandemic, and filed formal charges against TikTok and other social media influencers for flaunting the order. Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti ordered electric services to be cut off at Essa’s home after the January party, too, according to NBC4.
“During this crisis, my office has held those individuals and businesses who have had large indoor gatherings, violating important public health and safety orders, accountable.” Los Angeles city attorney Mike Feuer said, via The Times.
“During the pandemic, this enforcement is particularly important because party houses can produce superspreader events that jeopardize public health. We’re taking the steps to shut them down.”
Huston pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor disturbing the peace charge at a party in 2017, and was cited for noise violations during a party with 200 to 300 people at his Orange County home in 2014.
The 26-year-old is one of the most decorated X Games athletes of all time. He has won 13 gold medals in his 16 X Games appearances, dating back to when he first competed when he was 11. He is currently training for the Tokyo Olympics later this summer, where skateboarding will make its official Olympic debut.
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