JOEL JAMES GONZALES | California Caretaker Convicted Of Assaulting 2 Elderly Victims And Trying To Kill 6-Year-Old Girl | Director Of Facility Charged With Failure To Report Elder Abuse | Autographed Letter, Signed

Joel Gonzales. Autographed Letter, Signed. Handwritten, Commercial #10 (4.125 × 9.5 envelope). Santa Clarita, CA. September 24, 2024. Content unknown. SEALED.

Joel James Gonzales: Criminal Case Overview

Background and Employment

Joel James Gonzales was employed as a caretaker at the Royal Gardens elder care facility in Camarillo, California. His work primarily involved caring for patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. The facility was divided into two sections: one for assisted living and another dedicated to memory care.

Criminal Acts and Charges

On October 15, 2020, during his evening shift at the Royal Gardens facility, Gonzales committed multiple criminal acts:

• Assault on Assisted Living Resident: Gonzales cornered a resident in her room on the assisted living side of the facility. He attacked her several times and attempted to remove her clothing. The victim resisted, causing Gonzales to leave the room.

• Lewd Acts on Memory Care Resident: Gonzales then moved to the memory care section where he led a 90-year-old dementia patient into a storage closet, locked the door, and performed lewd acts on her until staff intervention.

The following day, October 16, 2020, Gonzales unlawfully entered a home in Camarillo through a dog door. Despite being confronted by the homeowner and asked to leave, he refused until law enforcement arrived and arrested him for misdemeanor aggravated trespassing.

Attempted Murder Incident

After being released from custody later that day, Gonzales stayed overnight at a family member’s home in Camarillo. During this time, a six-year-old girl was having her first sleepover with the family’s daughter. In the early hours of October 17, 2020, a teenager in the house heard loud noises coming from the room where the girls were sleeping. Upon investigation, they found Gonzales violently beating and choking the six-year-old girl while she was in her sleeping bag.

The teenager intervened by knocking Gonzales off the child. When deputies arrived at the scene, they found the young girl severely injured with brain trauma; she was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Legal Proceedings and Sentencing

Gonzales faced multiple charges including:

• Attempted murder of a six-year-old

• Felony lewd acts on a dependent adult

• Felony assault with intent to commit rape during burglary

• Misdemeanor aggravated trespassing

Special allegations included causing great bodily injury during a felony act, committing crimes involving great violence against vulnerable victims, and exploiting positions of trust.

Initially pleading not guilty by reason of insanity, Gonzales later withdrew this plea during legal proceedings. A jury convicted him of attempted murder among other charges after deliberations resulted in some deadlocks regarding premeditation aspects.

On September 25, 2024, Joel James Gonzales was sentenced to 16 years and eight months in state prison. Additionally, he is required to register as a sex offender due to his convictions related to sexual offenses against elderly women under his care.

Lisa Cohen, 55, pled guilty to elder abuse charges at a Camarillo assisted care home. Cohen, the director of the Royal Gardens Assisted Living Facility, was sentenced to 120 days in county jail and 12 months on probation. She was accused of being required to report elder abuse but neglecting to do so. Cohen was aware of the assaults on older women but did not report them, even when questioned by police about employee Joel Gonzales. The district attorney stated that Cohen was aware of the alleged offenses at the time they occurred but neglected to report Gonzales' activities to law authorities. Anyone who has assumed care or custody of an elderly or dependent adult is required by law to report elder abuse or neglect if they witness, suspect, or learn of it.

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