On February 3, federal prosecutors announced that a jury found Onofre Salas-Lozano, a janitor at the Palo Alto VA Hospital, guilty of sexually assaulting a coworker. Salas-Lozano, 42, isolated his victim in an exam room late at night and forced her into sexual activity. Despite claiming their encounter was consensual during the trial, he was convicted on charges including aggravated sexual abuse and making false statements to federal investigators. The case, which began with charges in April 2023, highlights abuses of power in work settings, particularly in government institutions.
Salas-Lozano used his position as a supervisor to sexually assault a fellow employee, highlighting an abuse of power within the workplace environment.
During the investigation, Salas-Lozano lied to a VA Office of Inspector General special agent, denying the sexual intercourse he was accused of.
At trial, Salas-Lozano claimed their sexual encounter was consensual, contradicting the claims made by his coworker and ultimately determined by the jury.
Convicted of aggravated sexual abuse and making false statements, Salas-Lozano's case underscores the importance of accountability and justice within federal agencies.
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