$18,000 Raised for Officer Convicted in Beating

Supporters of former Los Angeles Police Officer Laurence M. Powell, imprisoned for his role in the Rodney G. King beating, said Wednesday that they raised $18,000 at a benefit held earlier this week at the Los Angeles Police Academy to help pay for his continuing legal expenses.

“It will definitely mean a lot to Larry to know that a whole lot of people are pulling for him,” said Patricia Johnson, a North Hollywood resident and West Coast representative of the Legal Affairs Council.

The Virginia-based group, which previously raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to aid former Marine Lt. Col. Oliver L. North against Iran-Contra charges, helped organize the reception and dinner to aid Powell.

Powell, who was acquitted by a Simi Valley jury of state charges in the King case, was convicted in 1993 on federal charges of violating King’s civil rights during the videotaped beating in Lake View Terrace.

Powell is serving a 30-month sentence at the federal penitentiary in Boron, near Edwards Air Force Base. His supporters said they held the fund-raiser to help pay for appeals, to make a dent in his more than $150,000 in unpaid legal bills and to raise awareness of efforts by federal officials to extend his prison term.

Johnson estimated that more than 200 people attended the reception and 157 attended the dinner that followed. She said her organization plans to hold more benefits for Powell throughout California.

Tuesday’s event was also sponsored by the Officer Laurence Powell Emergency Assistance Fund. Last week Powell’s father, Ed Powell, said that so far the defense fund has raised between $60,000 and $70,000, most of which has been spent.