A man from California has been sentenced to over 16 years in prison following a three-day series of criminal acts. During this spree, he assaulted two patients at the nursing home where he was employed, unlawfully entered a residence through a doggy door, and attempted to harm a 6-year-old girl during her initial sleepover, according to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.
Joel James Gonzales, 28, entered a guilty plea in August for committing felony lewd acts on a dependent adult, following a mistrial declared by a judge when the jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision on the charge. Jurors found him guilty of attempting to murder the girl, committing felony assault with the intent to rape during a burglary, and misdemeanor assault.
Gonzales served as a caregiver for individuals with dementia and Alzheimer’s at the Royal Gardens elder care facility located in Camarillo, approximately 50 miles northwest of Los Angeles. On October 15, 2020, Gonzales attacked two patients. Authorities reported that he repeatedly trapped his initial victim, forcefully shoved her onto her bed, and attempted to tear her clothing away.
In a shocking incident, Gonzales led a 90-year-old dementia patient into a storage closet, locked her in, engaged in inappropriate behavior, and molested her before staff began to knock on the door, according to prosecutors.
The following day, Gonzales squeezed through a pet door at a residence in Camarillo, catching the homeowner off guard, as stated by prosecutors.
“Gonzales was told to leave but refused. He wandered around the house until a deputy with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office arrived,” prosecutors said.
Authorities took Gonzales into custody, but he was soon released back to his family later that same day. That evening, a six-year-old girl was enjoying her first sleepover with her family’s daughter. In the early hours of October 17, 2020, family members were alerted by loud banging sounds coming from the room where the two young girls were resting.
“A teenager in the home was the first to investigate and saw Gonzales violently beating and choking the six-year-old victim in her sleeping bag. The teenager rushed at Gonzales, knocking him off the victim,” prosecutors wrote.
The guardians at the residence restrained Gonzalez and contacted emergency services. Authorities discovered the victim semi-conscious, her face bruised and swollen. Officials report that the individual has survived, though they have sustained brain injuries.
Gonzales initially entered a plea of not guilty due to insanity but later opted to change his plea to guilty.