Who is Tina Gonzalez? Fresno prison officer jailed for sex with inmate as 11 others watched
FRESNO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: Tina Gonzalez, a 26-year-old correctional officer from Fresno County Jail has been described as "depraved" by her boss. The young woman was sentenced to seven months in county jail as well and two-year probation was handed out to her for having sex with an inmate. Gonzalez worked as a correctional officer between 2016-2019 and was arrested for her misdoing on May 1, 2020, following an investigation by the Sheriff's Office's vice unit and the department's internal affairs division.
While the details of Gonzalez's sexcapades with the inmates was not disclosed there have been instances where prisoners have testified against cops who asked for sex in exchange for basic necessities like toilet paper and sanitary pads. In July 2020, female inmates from Edna Mahan Correctional Facility testified during a public forum and called out the officials for being openly corrupt and sexual predators. A couple of months ago, 30-year-old Javonte Richardson, a guard at Miami prison was caught having sex with a female inmate, 15, in CCTV footage. A couple of years ago married 27-year-old correctional officer Sinead Nichole Hagan was seen having sex with multiple male prisoners.
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Who is Tina Gonzalez?
During her sentencing, it was revealed Gonzalez even cut a hole in her uniform pants to make it easier to have sex with the inmates. According to a report, the investigation into the matter was initiated after a tip-off that a male inmate was given a cell phone and was having sex with a correctional officer. Gonzalez was originally set to face three years and eight months in prison but she was able to evade the longer sentence.
Gonzalez's boss Assistant Sheriff Steve McComas revealed that apart from having sex with inmates, the CO also supplied razors - a potential weapon in the hands of inmates. She was also accused of relaying inside information to inmates such as what time would officers be inspecting a particular inmate's cell. McComas said he had seen and heard "disgusting things" about Gonzalez and her conduct topped that list. During the hearing, McComas said Gonzalez had sex with an inmate while being aware she was being watched by 11 others.
“That is something only a depraved mind can come up with,” McComas said during the hearing according to a report. McComas also revealed he had hoped Gonzalez would feel responsible and show some remorse after she was caught. But nothing like that ever happened and Gonzalez continued to call inmates to have phone sex with them and also boasted of her crimes to them. “She took an oath which she betrayed and in doing so endangered her coworkers’ lives. But she has shown no remorse. She continually calls and has sexually explicit conversations with the inmate in question and boasts about the crimes she carried out," McComas said.
Prosecutor Kaitlin Drake had recommended a 15-month sentence for Gonzalez. The CO's defense attorney Martin Taleisnik was able to bring it down to seven months and suggested probation instead of jail time stating she was vulnerable at the time as she had just ended her marriage. “It was never her intention to bring any harm or danger to the employees in the jail or anyone else in the jail,” Taleisnik said. Judge Michael Idiart didn't give Gonzalez the maximum punishment considering Gonzalez had no criminal history.
Idiart agreed that the correctional officer had betrayed her oath as well as endangered the lives of her fellow officers and the inmates at the jail but he believed Gonzalez could redeem herself from this incident. “I think what you did was terrible, stupid and you have ruined your career. But I also believe that people can redeem themselves and you have the rest of your life to do that. Good luck," Idiart said.