Opening Statements And Testimony Is Expected This Week In The Retrial Of A Camarillo Man Charged With Violent Crimes Against A Girl And Two Elderly Women

Sunday May 19, 2024

     Update--Opening statements and testimony is expected this week in the retrial of a Camarillo man facing charges in connection with violent crimes against a little girl and two elderly women.

     28-year-old Joel Gonzales has changed his pleas to not guilty by reason of insanity on charges of the Attempted Murder of a 6-year-old girl, and the Sexual Assaults of two women in their 80's and 90's in an assisted living facility.

     Jury selection wrapped up last Friday.

     Prosecutors allege that Gonzales tried to strangle the little girl and that the elderly women were allegedly sexually assaulted in an assisted living facility where he had worked as a caretaker.

    Prosecutors allege that the crimes happened within days of each other in mid October of 2020.

     Back in February, a jury had been picked and opening statements and testimony finally gotten underway in the trial of Gonzales.

     Then on March 4th the judge suddenly granted the defense request for a mistrial citing scheduling issues.

     Gonzales remains in the Ventura County Jail being held without bail.