Elsinore Correctional Officer Sexually Abused Female Inmates: DOJ

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — A Lake Elsinore man has been sentenced to two years in prison for sexually abusing female inmates while he was on duty as a correctional officer, the Department of Justice announced Tuesday. Apolonio Gamez, 41, pleaded guilty in October to two counts of sexual abuse of a ward and one count of attempted sexual abuse of a ward. All three counts are felonies.

According to the DOJ, Gamez was employed at the Federal Correctional Complex in Victorville when the crimes occurred between September 2016 and July 2017 while he was on duty.

"On two occasions in the autumn of 2016, Gamez engaged in sexual activity with one inmate while he was on duty," the DOJ said in a news release.

"In May 2017, Gamez caught another inmate stealing food, threatened to send her to the 'hole' (a reference to the prison’s special housing unit), and then directed her to engage in sexual activity with him, his plea agreement states," the release added. "Gamez’s victim did not resist because 'she felt frozen and powerless with fear,' according to court documents."

The man also exposed himself to a third inmate and trying to "engage in sexual activity" with her, the DOJ said.

Gamez now faces a total of 24 months behind bars and seven years of supervised release after prison, the DOJ said. He will be required to register as a sex offender and pay a $5,000 in fines.

— Image via Shutterstock