Valentin Cardenas Gonzales, Child Sexual Abuse, Washington 2013

Gonzales Found Guilty of Child Sexual Abuse Charges

A Federal jury in Spokane, Washington, has found 74-year-old Valentin Cardenas Gonzales guilty of two charges of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor and two charges of Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor.

The crimes, which involved three minor children from the Spokane Indian Reservation, were committed while Gonzales was a resident of Ford, Washington.

U.S. Attorney Michael C. Ormsby announced the guilty verdicts, stating that Gonzales faces a mandatory minimum 30-year up to a life term of imprisonment on both of the Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor charges.

In addition to prison time, Gonzales also faces a minimum five-year up to life-term of court supervision following release from Federal prison, up to a $250,000 fine for each charge, and restitution for each of the child victims.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Spokane Tribal Police Department, with the case being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney K. Jill Bolton.

Gonzales is scheduled to be sentenced on December 4, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. in the United States District Court before Judge Thomas O. Rice.

Mandatory Facts: Defendant/Respondent: Valentin Cardenas Gonzales, Exact Criminal Charges: Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor, City and State: Spokane, Washington, Exact Date: Not specified, Sentence or Outcome: Guilty verdicts, Prison Time: Mandatory minimum 30 years up to life, Fine: Up to $250,000, Restitution: For each of the child victims.

About the Defendant: Valentin Cardenas Gonzales, a 74-year-old former Spokane Indian Reservation resident, was found guilty of child sexual abuse charges.

Case Information: CR-12-0022-TOR, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington.

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