Demetrio Juan Gonzales, Assault, New Mexico 2011

A former New Mexico corrections officer has pleaded guilty to violating the civil rights of a drunk driver in his custody, striking and choking the victim in the shower room/dress out area of the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center.

Demetrio Juan Gonzales, 40, admitted to assaulting the victim, who had been arrested for driving under the influence, during the early morning hours of Dec. 21, 2011. Gonzales, who was assigned to the Receiving-Discharge-Transfer (RDT) Unit at the time, took the victim to the shower room/dress out area where he knew there were no surveillance cameras.

According to court documents, Gonzales physically assaulted the victim, striking him multiple times and choking him, leaving visible marks on the victim’s neck. The victim began bleeding as a result of the beating, which Gonzales acknowledged was unwarranted.

Gonzales is facing a maximum of 10 years in federal prison. He remains under pretrial supervision pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.

Two other former MDC corrections officers, Kevin Casaus, 23, and Matthew Pendley, 25, were indicted in June 2012 and are pending trial on charges related to the assault. Casaus is charged with violating the victim’s civil rights and obstruction of justice, while Pendley is charged with obstruction of justice and tampering with evidence.

The investigation is being led by the Albuquerque Division of the FBI, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark T. Baker and Trial Attorney Fara Gold of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice prosecuting the case.

This disturbing incident highlights the need for accountability within law enforcement agencies and the importance of protecting the rights of individuals in custody.

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