A former California Highway Patrol rookie once briefly assigned to the agency's Redwood City Area office has now pleaded no contest to another felony sexual-assault charge, according to prosecutors and local coverage. Vidal Gonzalez, 22, of Oroville, entered the plea in Butte County Superior Court today, adding to earlier felony allegations that investigators say involved multiple women.
According to Action News Now, Gonzalez admitted to an additional felony sexual-assault count after two more women testified in proceedings that led to the new charge. The outlet reports that the latest plea is tied directly to testimony and other evidence presented during the most recent court dates in the case.
Background of the case
The Butte County District Attorney’s Office said in a press release that Gonzalez was arraigned in April 2025 on four felony sexual-assault counts and one felony assault count after CHP detectives documented multiple disclosures. Prosecutors outlined alleged incidents that included an assault at Oroville Dam in February and an attack in Chico in November 2024, and a judge later ruled there was enough evidence to send the case to trial. According to the Butte County DA press release, Gonzalez remained in custody without bail following those hearings.
Local ties and officer status
Local reporting has noted that Gonzalez had only recently graduated from the CHP academy and was briefly assigned to the Redwood City Area office before being placed on administrative leave. The California Highway Patrol lists the Area office at 355 Convention Way in Redwood City, and regional coverage has laid out the early timeline of his short assignment there and the subsequent investigation. For additional details on the arraignment and early court filings, see Sierra Daily News and the CHP’s office page.
What a no-contest plea means
Under California law, a plea of nolo contendere, or no contest, to a felony has the same legal effect as a guilty plea for sentencing and other criminal-law purposes. The statutory language spelling that out appears in Penal Code §1016.
What’s next
Upcoming court filings and hearings will determine whether prosecutors seek any additional counts or move to set a sentencing date following the recent plea. Observers note that official court records will remain the definitive source for tracking the next steps in the case, including any changes to the calendar tied to Gonzalez’s no-contest plea.
