Sexual Assault Suspect Arrested 

July 16, 2025 – Riverside County Sheriff's Office officials report that in June 2025, the Riverside Sheriff's Special Victims Unit received information regarding a hospital employee who was having inappropriate contact with an unconscious patient. During the course of the investigation, the suspect was identified as Lauro Gonzales Jr., a 40-year-old resident of Lake Elsinore. Investigators learned that Gonzales was employed as a nurse by multiple hospitals within Riverside County.

On July 15, 2025, investigators conducted a vehicle stop in the area of Interstate 15 and Temescal Canyon Road, where Gonzales was taken into custody without incident. A search warrant was served at his residence, where additional evidence was located. Gonzales was booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center for sexual penetration of an unconscious person.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Special Victims Unit believes there may be additional victims and encourages anyone with more information regarding this investigation to contact Investigator J. Lee at (951) 955-1718 or Sheriff's Dispatch by calling (951) 776-1099.

This is an ongoing investigation, and no additional details are available at this time.

Reporting Supervisor: Sergeant Jim Peters

File # WI251690040

Source & photo: Riverside County Sheriff's Office