LOS ANGELES – A state appeals court panel Monday upheld the conviction of Inglewood Mayor James Butts Jr.’s 39-year-old daughter on assault and conspiracy charges stemming from allegations that she masterminded an attack on her landlord in South Los Angeles more than nine years ago.

The three-justice panel from California’s 2nd District Court of Appeal rejected Ashley Melissa Butts’ challenge to rulings made on four issues by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mildred Escobedo, along with the defense’s request to conditionally reverse her conviction and to direct the trial court to determine whether she should be granted mental health diversion.

In a 56-page ruling, the justices found that “the evidence of Butts’ guilt was overwhelming.”

Butts pleaded guilty in 2019 to assault and

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