A Silverton policeman will remain behind bars as the courts process sex abuse charges against him and investigators ready a case for a grand jury that will consider the killing of a 20-year-old Irish citizen.
Officer Tony Gonzalez, who fatally shot an Irish national during a burglary call earlier this month, was arraigned in court Tuesday on sex abuse charges.
Cop in court for alleged sex abuse
Gonzalez was accused of molesting a teenage family member on at least 60 separate occasions. During his arraignment in court Tuesday, he was visibly emotional but said little.
Judge Joseph Ochoa rejected a bail request. Gonzalez is due back in court later in July.
He faces five counts of sex abuse and up to 13 years in prison, if convicted.
Gonzalez was booked into jail on Sunday. According to a Probable Cause Statement written by investigators, the victim told police that “The first incident of sexual abuse occurred when she was in the sixth or seventh grade.”
The abuse eventually stopped. But, it started up again last week, say investigators. The victim, accompanied by her mother, reported the abuse to police on Saturday.
Officer Gonzales was already on paid leave and under intense scrutiny after the June 30th shooting of A.J. Hanlon.
The 35-year old officer was responding to a burglary call when he shot and killed the Irish national in Silverton.
Prosecutors say the two cases are unrelated and will be handled independently.
Gonzales is scheduled to appear in a Marion County courtroom tomorrow morning.
No comments:
Post a Comment