Ex-Fresno County correctional officer, accused of sex with inmate, enters plea in court
A former Fresno County Sheriff’s correctional officer, who is accused of having sex with an inmate and supplying him with booze and a phone, pleaded not guilty Tuesday.
Tina Gonzalez, 26, of Lemoore, is charged with three counts of sexual activity with a confined adult, one count of possession of a controlled substance in jail and one count of possession of a cell phone with the intent to give it to an inmate.
If convicted on all counts, she faces up to five years in prison.
Gonzalez was arrested on May 1 after a five-month investigation by members of the sheriff’s office’s vice unit and internal affairs. The investigation was prompted by a tip to jail staff in December 2019 that a male inmate was given a cell phone and was having sex with Gonzalez.
During the investigation detectives learned Gonzalez had allegedly also smuggled alcohol into the jail.
Soon after she spoke with detectives, Gonzalez resigned from her position. Gonzalez had been a corrections officer since September 2016.
Gonzalez, who is out on bail, is due back into court Aug. 19 in Dept. 31.
This story was originally published July 7, 2020 at 3:57 PM.
