California caretaker convicted of assaulting 2 elderly victims and trying to kill 6-year-old girl

CAMARILLO, Calif. (TCN) -- A 28-year-old caretaker is expected to receive 16 years and eight months in state prison for assaulting two elderly patients at a care facility, as well as trying to kill a young girl in a separate incident two days later.

The Ventura County District Attorney's Office announced Aug. 27 that Joel Gonzales pleaded guilty to one count of felony lewd acts on a dependent adult. Gonzales previously went to trial for that charge, but it resulted in a mistrial. The jury was unable to reach a verdict at the time regarding the attempted murder of the 6-year-old girl and whether it was premeditated. Gonzales initially pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

In July, a jury convicted him of attempted murder, felony assault with intent to commit rape during a burglary, and misdemeanor aggravated trespassing, with multiple special allegations and aggravating factors added to the charges.

Gonzales is set to be sentenced on Sept. 25.

According to prosecutors, on Oct. 15, 2020, Gonzales was working at Royal Gardens elder care facility when he cornered a victim inside of her room during his evening shift. He reportedly attacked her multiple times, "pushing her down on the bed, and attempted to remove her clothing." The first victim defended herself before Gonzales eventually retreated and exited the room.

Following the attack on the first victim, the district attorney's office said Gonzales brought a 90-year-old woman with dementia into a storage closet, locked her in, and "performed lewd acts" on her before facility staff members knocked on the door.

The next day, Gonzales reportedly broke into a house by crawling through a doggy door. The homeowner allegedly ordered him to leave, but he didn't. Instead, prosecutors said Gonzales "wandered around the house until a deputy with the Ventura County Sheriff's Office arrived." Gonzales was arrested and released that evening.

A family member reportedly allowed Gonzales to sleep at their home that night. According to the district attorney's office, the family's young daughter was having a sleepover at the time. At approximately 5 a.m. on Oct. 17, 2020, relatives "heard loud banging noises coming from the room where the two young girls were sleeping." A teenager in the home reportedly went to investigate the noise and "saw Gonzales violently beating and choking the 6-year-old victim in her sleeping bag." The teen allegedly intervened and pushed Gonzales off of the girl before the parents came in and law enforcement was called.

Deputies arrived and saw that the young girl was in and out of consciousness, and her face appeared swollen and bloodied. The victim was transported to the hospital and survived the incident, but she sustained brain trauma as a result.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Tom Steele said, "The defendant’s plea and convictions today enable each of the victims to receive the justice and closure they deserve."

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