United States v. Gonzalez

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The Ninth Circuit affirmed Defendant Gonzalez, Luviano, and Ayala's convictions and sentences for conspiracy to deprive a visitor to the Los Angeles County Men's Central Jail of his civil rights in violation of 18 U.S.C. 241; violating his civil rights in violation of 18 U.S.C. 242; and falsifying reports to obstruct an investigation in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1519. Gonzalez was a sergeant with the LA County Sheriff's Department and the other two defendants were deputies under his supervision. A jury found defendants guilty of violating the visitor's civil rights and falsifying reports to conceal the wrongdoing.The panel held that there was sufficient evidence to convict Gonzalez and Ayala of conspiracy under section 241 and for the substantive offense of willfully depriving the visitor of his right to be free from the use of excessive force; the evidence was sufficient to convict Ayala and Luviano for falsifying reports under section 1519; defendants' challenge to the district court's denial of their request to dismiss a juror was rejected; there was no plain error in the jury instructions; the government did not commit misconduct during closing argument; and Ayala's challenge to her sentence was rejected. View "United States v. Gonzalez" on Justia Law