Olympic Boxer And Coach May Have More Molestation Victims: Police

LOS ANGELES, CA — Sheriff's detectives hope to induce more victims into coming with the arrest of a 53-year-old Olympic boxing champion and county-employed boxing coach facing felony charges for allegedly committing lewd acts on a child.

Special Victims Bureau detectives are looking for any additional victims who may not yet have come forward with complaints against 1984 Olympic boxing gold medalist Paul Gonzales, who worked for the Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Department as the head coach at the Eddie Heredia Boxing Club on East Olympic Boulevard in East L.A. He represented the U.S. in boxing at the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, where he won a gold medal as a light flyweight.

Gonzales, who has worked at the club for the past 10 years, was arrested a week ago Friday following an investigation by the Sheriff's Special Victims Bureau. He is being held in lieu of $545,000 bail and is facing eight felony counts, four of which are lewd acts upon a child, according to the sheriff's department.

He is next due in court in downtown Los Angeles on Jan. 18.

"Based on the allegations in this case, and the fact suspect Gonzales has trained and mentored kids at the boxing gym for the past ten years, detectives believe there may have been other children in the past that were sexually assaulted by suspect Gonzales," according to a sheriff's department statement.

Anyone with relevant information about the case was urged to contact the Sheriff's Special Victims Bureau at (877) 710-5273.

City News Service; Photo: American boxer Paul Gonzales holds an American flag after receiving the gold medal in the 48kg boxing competition at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, on August 11, 1984. Silver medal winner Salvatore Todisco can be seen behind him. (AP Photo/Heflin)