Daughter of Inglewood mayor denies hiring friend to attack her landlord

The daughter of Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts pleaded not guilty Friday to arranging an attack for cash on her landlord over an ongoing dispute.

Ashley Melissa Butts, 30, of Inglewood and her friend Israel Rios are charged with assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury, conspiracy to commit a crime and first-degree burglary in connection with the April 30 attack.

Shortly after Butts moved into her landlord’s home in the 3300 block of West 78th Street in Hyde Park, they began quarreling, prosecutors said.

According to the criminal complaint, Butts called Rios on her cellphone and instructed Rios to come to her home, so that he could attack the victim in exchange for cash. Butts then had an Uber driver pick up Rios, 37, and an unidentified man and drive them to her home.

Butts and Rios texted each other with directions on how to enter the home, according to the complaint. After Rios arrived at the home, she texted him that he should knock.

Rios responded, “Open it, homie will … he opened it with a knife,” according to the complaint.

She then unlocked the door, allowing the men to enter, prosecutors said.

Rios then attacked the landlord with a metal bat, and one of the men shot a firearm at him, according to the complaint.

The victim suffered cuts and bruises to his head. He was not struck by gunfire, a district attorney’s official said.

If convicted, Butts faces up to seven years in prison. Rios faces up to 22 years in prison.

Butts is due back in court July 26 to schedule a preliminary hearing.

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