Passaic County Correctional Officers Arrested for Civil Rights Violations and Obstruction of Justice
*Newark, N.J. – Wednesday, January 17, 2024 — In a significant development, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today that two sergeants and a correctional officer from Passaic County have been arrested on charges of violating a pretrial detainee’s civil rights and conspiracy to obstruct justice.
The arrested individuals, identified as Sergeants Jose Gonzalez (45) and Donald Vinales (38), along with Officer Lorenzo Bowden (39), are facing charges including deprivation of rights under color of law and conspiracy to obstruct justice. Officer Bowden is additionally charged with making false statements. The trio is scheduled for their initial appearances this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer in Newark federal court.
According to the criminal complaint filed:
On January 22, 2021, a pretrial detainee at the Passaic County Jail allegedly splashed a mixture containing urine onto a correctional officer. The following day, Sergeants Gonzalez and Vinales, along with Officer Bowden, transported the detainee through an area of the jail lacking video surveillance, commonly referred to as a “blind spot.” In this vulnerable location, Gonzalez and Vinales allegedly assaulted the detainee while he was handcuffed, knocking him to the ground and striking him multiple times. Officer Bowden reportedly did not intervene to stop the assault. The detainee was subsequently taken to a local hospital, where injuries from the assault were documented.
In a concerning turn of events, all defendants failed to submit required documentation regarding their use of force. Moreover, after receiving federal grand jury subpoenas in April 2022, they allegedly conspired to obstruct the federal investigation. During a meeting, the group decided not to cooperate and agreed to deny any wrongdoing in relation to the assault. Officer Bowden later provided false statements during an interview with federal investigators in October 2022, denying the detainee had been assaulted and falsely denying any meeting or communication regarding the incident.
The charge of deprivation of rights under color of law carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, while conspiracy to obstruct justice is punishable by up to 20 years, and making false statements is subject to a maximum sentence of five years.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger commended the FBI and the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office Division of Internal Affairs for their thorough investigation leading to these charges.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Levin of the Criminal Division and the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Civil Rights Task Force in Newark are representing the government in this case.
It is important to note that the charges and allegations contained in the complaint are accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
