Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Jonathan Paredes (Full Name: Jonathan Tejada Paredes) Arrested For Allegedly Sexually Assaulting Female Inmate At Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood While On Duty
LYNWOOD, NEW YORK (November 29, 2023) – A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy identified as Jonathan Paredes has been charged with sexually assaulting a female inmate at the Century Regional Detention Facility.
Los Angeles County officials are saying that the defendant was arrested on Wednesday. The LASD said that they were first made aware of the allegations against Jonathan Paredes on Tuesday.
Officials said that the arrest took place after a 24-hour investigation. The actions allegedly took place when the deputy was on-duty.
Jonathan Paredes was booked into the Walnut Sheriff’s station and is currently being held on a $100,000 bail.
Liability For Lynwood Inmate Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse in prisons across California is all too common. In many situations, abuse against inmates is initiated at the hands of correctional officers. According to data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, around 80,000 men and woman are sexually abused in prisons throughout the United States each year. Women tend to be at a much higher risk of being sexually victimized by jail staff. Much of the abuse that goes on is preventable. There are a number of measures that jails should take in order to prevent sexual abuse.
- All jail staff should be thoroughly vetted.
- All instances of sexual abuse within a jail should be thoroughly investigated.
- Jail officials should typically not be allowed to be alone with inmates.
- The people that operate prisons should understand the factors that lead to sexual victimization and predation.
Jails must take certain measures to protect inmates from reasonably foreseeable sources of harm including sexual abuse. According to California Penal Code 289.6 (a), it is a crime for correctional officers to engage in sexual activity with inmates. Federal law also criminalizes sexual contact between prison staff and inmates under 18 U.S.C. §§ 2241, 2243, and 2244. When a jail is deliberately indifferent to protecting an inmate from sexual abuse, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. Several steps should be taken after any instance of inmate sexual abuse.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- A police report should be created.
- An experienced sexual abuse attorney should be contacted.
By the time any law enforcement agent is arrested for sexual abuse, there were likely numerous red flags that were missed. Sadly, it is common for jail officials to turn a blind eye when they suspect that sexual abuse is taking place. It is important that victims of sexual abuse understand that they do have rights. Any person that is sexually abused by a law enforcement agent is able to hold them accountable through a civil claim. A sexual abuse attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Getting Legal Help For Sexual Abuse At The Century Regional Detention Facility In Lynwood
We at the Carrillo Law Firm, LLP extend our best wishes to all of the inmates who may have been harmed by the actions of Jonathan Paredes. There needs to be a thorough investigation into the possibility that there are additional victims. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to prevent this from happening again.
Have you or someone that you care about been sexually abused at the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood? Our team of sexual abuse attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that abuse victims are aware of their rights and that jails are held accountable for their negligence. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 626-799-9375.