Ex L.A. Sheriff Who Violated Civil Rights Sentenced

fbi.gov, Dec 01, 2006

A former deputy with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department was sentenced today to 360 months in federal prison for raping a woman, forcing another woman to perform oral sex, and fondling a third woman's breasts, all while on duty.

Gabriel Gonzalez, 38, of Chino Hills, was sentenced this afternoon by United States District Judge Christina A. Snyder.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Snyder heard from two of the victims who said the assaults had had a devastating impact on their lives. “I feel as if I am carrying a heavy weight that my rapist has forced me to carry my whole life,” one woman told the court Gozalez was convicted of three civil rights offenses on February 27 following a two-week jury trial.

The evidence at trial showed that Gonzalez pulled over one woman for an alleged traffic violation, drove her to a secluded location, and raped her. Gonzalez stopped another woman for jaywalking, drove her to an alley and forced her to perform oral sex. Gonzalez stopped a third woman for an alleged traffic violation and fondled her breasts under the pretense of searching her for drugs.

"This officer willfully violated his duty to protect and to serve though an appalling series of sexual assaults," said Wan J. Kim, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department. "No one is above the law and the Department of Justice is committed to vigorously enforcing the criminal civil rights laws that the vast majority of law enforcement officers work tirelessly to uphold and enforce." Read more at fbi.gov