A former night supervisor for a Palo Alto Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital cleaning contractor, Onofre Salas-Lozano, has been convicted by a federal jury on multiple counts, including aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse by fear, and making a false statement to a federal agent, as reported in a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. Salas-Lozano's conviction followed a three-week trial, with the verdict delivered last Friday.

Salas-Lozano, 42, committed the assault on July 2, 2021, by isolating his victim, whom he supervised, in a patient exam room at the hospital and then forcing her to engage in sexual activity. The evidence presented at trial, which included DNA analysis, confirmed the presence of Salas-Lozano's sperm in the victim's underwear, and the victim sustained traumatic tissue injury as a result. During the investigation that followed, Salas-Lozano lied to a VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) special agent regarding the sexual encounter.

United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey commented on the conviction, stating, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office, "Salas-Lozano used his position as a supervisor to sexually assault a fellow employee," and emphasizing that federal law enforcement will work tirelessly to secure justice for victims of sexual assault. In addition, the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General's Northwest Field Office Special Agent in Charge Dimitriana Nikolov said, "The verdict sends a clear message that the VA OIG remains dedicated to holding those who commit an act of violence at a VA facility accountable."

Salas-Lozano is set to return to court for sentencing, where he could face life in prison for each of the sexual abuse counts and up to eight years for the false statement to a federal agent. The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marissa Harris and Christoffer Lee, with support from team members Sara Slattery, Susan Kreider, Sahib Kaur, Mimi Lam, and Fernanda Gonzalez—the result of a concerted effort by VA OIG and the VA Police Service.