NJ Jail Guard Who Beat Up Detainee After Urine Assault Learns Sentence

PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ — A Passaic County corrections officer who joined in on beating up a jail detainee years ago has learned his fate in court.

Jose Gonzalez, 47, pleaded guilty in May 2025 to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. He was sentenced to 17 months in prison on Monday.

According to court documents, the altercation took place in January 2021 after the victim, whose identity has not been released, sprayed a mixture containing urine onto a Passaic County Jail correctional officer.

The following day, Gonzalez, along with Sergeant Donald Vinales, 39, and Correctional Officer Lorenzo Bowden, 39, who were also charged, escorted the victim to an unmonitored location in the jail.

Gonzalez and Vinales proceeded to beat the victim to the ground while he was handcuffed, according to the court documents.

The detainee was taken to a nearby hospital the next day as a result of the assault.

The three accused were required to file reports regarding their use of physical force, but never did.

Four months later, the three defendants received federal grand jury subpoenas regarding the investigation.

Gonzalez admitted that the group agreed not to cooperate with the federal investigation, and to say that “nothing had happened to the detainee.”

Bowden later lied to federal investigators during an interview, claiming that the detainee had “not been assaulted” and that there was never a meeting between those involved with the assault.

Both Bowden and Vinales pleaded guilty to similar charges and are awaiting sentencing.

In addition to his 17-month prison sentence, Gonzalez was ordered to two years of supervised release.